Hasselbaink: De Jong behind Declan Rice but still a top player

Frenkie de Jong has pushed back at critics who, he says, misunderstand parts of his game: “I have the feeling that many people don’t understand anything about football. They watch it, but they don’t understand it... I hear people say that I don’t give through passes, but that’s not true.

They’re just not paying attention to the game.” Former Netherlands striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink called De Jong “a very good player” and one of the national side’s main men, but added that he sees the Barcelona midfielder as “a little bit behind Declan Rice.” Hasselbaink said De Jong sometimes needs to move the ball quicker and “holds onto it a little bit too long,” while still stressing his high quality and game understanding.

De Jong has spent seven years at Barcelona, making 297 appearances and winning three La Liga titles, and has repeatedly turned down Manchester United interest.

Netherlands, Barcelona

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