Are Barcelona over dependent on Frenkie De Jong?

There is a significant difference in the recent games that Barcelona has played. From the start of La Liga to this date, fans with FC Barcelona tickets have noticed something strange. 

It’s the loss of Frenkie de Jong. It felt like the playing style earlier, but now it is obvious – ever since FC Barcelona has played a game without Frenkie de Jong, they’ve struggled and lost. 

They’ve been all over the place.  It would question if FC Barcelona were too reliant on the Dutch midfielder and how Xavi adapted in his absence. 

The Importance of De Jong 

De Jong sustained an injury to the tibiofibular syndesmosis in his right ankle during a La Liga game involving Celta Vigo on September 23. Following his injury, fans with FC Barcelona tickets expected him to be back for the all-important El Classico, but he hasn’t recovered in time. 

This stint of absence is the longest he has experienced since joining Barcelona in 2019, following a transfer from Ajax worth $80 million. The absence of De Jong has been conspicuous, with the team missing his presence on the field.

Coach Xavi has improvised with Oriol Romeu in his absence, and the team has struggled. De Jong brought in the exceptional skill to clean up eros and bring in the short pass play routine that Barcelona was great at doing. 

His expected return after the upcoming international break at the end of November is eagerly awaited by the manager, teammates and the fans.

A player who was at one time disregarded and cornered, De Jong has evolved to become Barca’s most important player. For Xavi, not having De Jong in his starting Xi is starting to trouble him. 

Under Xavi’s management, the team has faced criticism for needing more vigor and work rate that De Jong consistently brings to the squad.

At the outset of the season, when De Jong was available, Barcelona enjoyed a nearly perfect start, winning on six occasions and a single draw in the seven games, which allowed them to be unbeaten. 

This was a brilliant start to the campaign, with the side on a quest to retain the La Liga title they won last year. 

Those with FC Barcelona tickets were elated, but that did not last long. However, since his unfortunate injury, the team’s performance has shown an apparent decline, with only five wins, two draws, and two defeats in their last three matches spanning nine fixtures.

While the team has faced criticism for relying on individual talents, such as Messi, Suarez, and Pedri, in the past, it’s becoming increasingly evident that “Frenkiedependencia,” as it might be called in Spanish, has now become a critical factor in Barcelona’s performance. 

Interestingly, De Jong was on the verge of signing for Manchester United in 2022 and had already accepted an offer. 

But De Jong opted to stay. And looking at his progress, he made the right call.

Favoritism and Injust Practices in Place at Barca? 

Recent reports from El Nacional have surfaced that team chemistry in the dressing room isn’t looking good at the moment, with players fuming over favoritism, creating a rift in the squad. 

The reports are looking at one player, Raphinha, who’s been ‘assumed’ to be given special treatment at the Catalan club. 

The report also claims that Ousmane Dembele’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain during the summer was partly attributed to this issue, as per El Nacional.

Signed from Leeds United in 2022 for a deal worth up to £55 million, Deco initially represented him during his transfer to Barcelona. However, when Deco assumed the club’s sporting director role a year later, it ended the professional relationship between the two as the agency was dissolved. 

And now Barcelona is grappling with a crisis on the field with losses, and those with FC Barcelona tickets aren’t happy. 

And according to El Nacional, within the squad, there’s a sense of favoritism directed toward Raphinha. It’s also noted that in the summer, Raphinha was reportedly considered a sellable asset, but the potential transfer was halted upon Deco’s appointment as sporting director.

More reports are emerging on preferential treatment; this time around, it is around Lamine Yamal. 

The youngster once tagged as the club’s future is now discarded. Despite being in the top 3 of the leading goal scorers, Yamal isn’t considered a key asset. 

It was apparent when Lamine Yamal was omitted from FC Barcelona’s lineup in the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. Several fans with FC Barcelona tickets questioned the move after the match on social media, saying that Yamal could’ve changed the game for the club. 

Lamine started the game on the bench and was only brought on as part of a quadruple substitution later in the match. According to El Nacional, the player’s father noticed this.

It’s essential to consider the player’s age and the need for proper rest and management, especially with young talents like Lamine, to prevent burnout or injury. 

Others argue that this was the right call in managing the player and securing him for the future.

Wage Issue Led to Dembele’s Exit 

Regarding the Ousmane Dembele situation and his transfer to PSG, Barca officials have responded that it was primarily owing to wages. With financial issues at Barcelona, the club reached a point where Dembele’s wages affected the rest of the players and saw the opportunity to let him go. 

In an interview with L’Equipe, Dembele also mentioned the allure of PSG for a French player as a primary motive.

FC Barcelona is facing financial difficulties and navigating the constraints of Financial Fair Play while trying to bring in new talent for the upcoming season. Any player, including Raphinha, is unlikely to be entirely safe from potential departures.

Despite all this, FC Barcelona has delivered impressive results to the fans. Their La Liga win last season was terrific, but they might have some catching up to do this season with Real Madrid. 

Despite the loss to Shakter Donestk, the club still is at the top of their UEFA Champions League group stage and will make it through.