El Clasico gives Barcelona star the opportunity of a lifetime
The Clasico against Real Madrid offered Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong a new opportunity to prove his ability to reclaim his place in the starting lineup, after returning to action following a knee injury sustained while playing for his country at the 2016 World Cup . The Catalan newspaper Sport reported that the 29-year-old Dutchman is determined to secure a more prominent role with Barcelona, having missed the matches against Real Betis and Paris Saint-Germain despite being included in the squad after his recovery . The Real Madrid match provided him with another chance to shine, as he came on as a substitute for Firmino Lopez for 16 minutes and delivered a performance that earned praise from coach Hansi Flick, despite being deployed in an attacking midfield position, far from his usual role . Flick said of the player's return: "He has trained extremely well and gives us great strength in possession. It was very important for us that he played for a few minutes ." De Jong faces stiff competition for the two holding midfield positions, with Flick preferring Pedri and Rodri, while Xavi and Marc Bernal are also vying for playing time. However, Dani Olmo's injury could open up a different path for him, potentially leading to competition for a more advanced midfield role currently occupied by Firmino López . De Jong confirmed in an interview with Dutch channel Ziggo Sport that he doesn't want to remain on the bench for long, stating, "I'm now in top physical condition and getting stronger every day, and I hope to get more playing time soon ." He added that his long-term goal is to play regularly and return to the starting lineup as soon as possible, making his appearance against Real Madrid a crucial step in his quest to regain his place in the Catalan team.
