Flick teases De Jong’s best role at Barca: He can play alongside Casado

Hansi Flick feels that Frenkie de Jong is a perfect match for his midfield pivot role following another impressive substitute appearance in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Espanyol.

When discussing Frenkie de Jong’s ideal position at Barcelona, Flick remarked, “He can play next to Casado. De Jong excels as a number eight but is also effective as a number six.

“It wasn’t easy for him when he came on; we made several mistakes. The substitutes in the second half faced a tough challenge.”

De Jong has yet to start a match for the Blaugrana this season and is competing for a starting spot with Gavi, Casado, and Pedri. He has made five appearances so far, with his second-half performance in El Clasico being particularly noteworthy.

Additionally, De Jong is dealing with off-field matters as he has declined to sign a contract extension, with his current deal running until 2026.

In response to a question about midfield depth, Hansi Flick quipped, “If we’re stacked in midfield, I’ll just play with six midfielders then.”