The 2020-21 season, which started with a six-time Ballon d’Or winner making one push for the departure, ended with no new terms being agreed with a mercurial superstar in Catalonia.
De Jong feels like Messi is happy at Barcelona
Frenkie de Jong appraises Lionel Messi as “still the best player by far” at Barcelona and hopes that the teammate he sees being “happy” at Camp Nou will soon sign a new deal. The 2020-21 season, which started with a six-time Ballon d’Or winner making one push for the departure, ended with no new terms being agreed with a mercurial superstar in Catalonia. Messi is still due to hit free agency. Still, an extended stay with the only club side he has represented in a remarkable senior career to date continues to be debated. De Jong is among those looking forward to a positive update from the all-time great when the Dutch midfielder was telling reporters about his talismanic teammate: “I feel like he’s happy at Barcelona. I hope he stays because he helps us. He’s still the best player by far.”
It’s special to play alongside Leo Messi
Pressed on whether he has discussed the matter of Messi’s future with the man himself, De Jong added: “Saying that he should stay? No, not directly. But we talk about a lot of things. It’s special to play with him. When I was 12 years old, he was already the best in the world. If the positions are the same and I can choose between playing Messi or someone else, I always choose Messi. It would be foolish not to. He is the best of them all.” While waiting on a big future call from Messi, De Jong also is among interested observers keeping a close eye on two compatriots who see the summer moves mooted. Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay enter the free-agent pool at the end of their respective contracts at Liverpool and Lyon. Both reported being on Barca’s radar.
Talking about whether he might have more familiar faces alongside him next season, the Dutch international De Jong said, “Wijnaldum and Depay? It’s unclear what they’re up to. I don’t know how serious it is. And maybe I know, but then I don’t tell.”