Frenkie de Jong has just
fulfilled his childhood dream of playing for Barcelona and playing alongside
his idol, Lionel Messi. De Jong agreed to join Barcelona in January, with his
former Dutch club Ajax and Barcelona settling on a transfer worth £65 million.
"I am very happy to be here finally," he said
at his official unveiling.
"As a child it was a dream for me to play at
Barca, and now I'm here so it's great."
De Jong was particularly happy that the Barcelona
legend, Messi, would now be his teammate.
"I'm really looking forward to setting foot on the
Camp Nou pitch for the first time," he said. "I'm happy to be able to
play with Messi, who I have always followed. Now my idol will be my
team-mate."
De Jong was instrumental in Ajax's 4-1 win over Real
Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals last season.
"Lots of people from Barca congratulated me after we beat Real
Madrid in the Champions League," he said. "The president called me
after the match!"
He admitted to wanting to wear the number 21 shirt at
Barcelona, but said he would be OK in any position.
"I see myself in midfield," he said. "But I don't mind if
it is as a holding midfielder or as an attacking player. I just want to be in
the starting XI. The best in the world are here and I'm here to fight for a
place in this great team."
"I like Barca's way of playing," he added.
"The philosophy of Barca and Ajax are very similar, and I think I will
enjoy it.
"Barca and Holland have always had a great,
special connection, and I hope to follow in that tradition. I want to be one of
the great Dutch players who have played at Barcelona."
Do you think De Jong will be Sergio Busquets' heir at
the Camp Nou? Let us know what you think.
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