The 31-year-old has scored in each of his three games in 2022, and boss Xavi Hernandez has praised him for his dedication and mentality.
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Luuk de Jong’s six-month stay in Barcelona was fascinating. The Dutchman was brought in on loan as a substitute for Antoine Griezmann late on the summer transfer deadline day, and his signing was welcomed with a lot of hostility from the fans. And for the first half of the season, the imposing striker appeared entirely out of place and out of sorts with the club, failing to make an impression. It had sparked speculation about his future, with the Blaugrana reportedly set to let him go.
However, de Jong’s fortunes have improved in the new year. The 31-year-old has scored in each of his three games in 2022, and boss Xavi Hernandez has praised him for his dedication and mentality. Furthermore, there have been no recent rumours about his future. Now, the Netherlands international has spoken out about the situation, stating that he would prefer to finish the season at Barcelona.
As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, he said: “We have been with the family for half a year in Barcelona, I don’t want to move again now.”
With Barcelona on the lookout for a new striker, it’s possible that de Jong will be relegated to a supporting position if a new signing is made. The Sevilla loanee, on the other hand, says he would be fine in such a situation. “And yes, even if I were to become a substitute again, I could still be valuable,” he stated.
Speaking of the turnaround in his fortunes and how he has gone from receiving criticism to adulation, de Jong said: “I can put it in perspective, the euphoria and the contempt in elite sport. But it’s okay, of course, the positive reactions now.”
The Netherlands striker also spoke about Xavi and his tactics. “I think Xavi was a bit surprised at how I fit into his game. He saw that I can also be a ‘9’ for him who he can count on to make triangulations and thus play under pressure from an opponent,” he said. “Xavi wants his striker to be meeting point and that holds balls and combines with midfielders. He always says: attract central defenders to leave space for others to launch.”
