Barcelona: "If Messi is talking, take it" because "he is the best player in the world" - Frenkie de Jong
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| Frenkie de Jong. A Dutch professional footballer, plays for Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona and the Netherlands National Team as a midfielder. In the photo, the Dutchman in action for Barcelona in a La Liga match at the Estadio Camp Nou. January 2019, Barcelona announced the signing of Frenkie de Jong from Dutch club Ajax on a five-year contract for an initial fee worth €75million. Photo: TimClayton/Corbis via Getty |
Frenkie de Jong is one of the finest midfielders in world football.
In an exclusive interview with Guillem Balague for BBC Radio 5 Live's European Football Podcast, the 23-year-old Barcelona
and Netherlands man talks about how sport can lead the fight against racism, returning to football after the coronavirus, learning from Lionel Messi and the musical inspiration behind his name.
'It does not matter what colour you are, everyone is the same'
"It makes you feel really sad that there are still things like this," said De Jong. "I can't imagine people thinking this way, it's really strange.
"In our dressing room we have players from South America, Holland, Spain, everywhere in the world and we're coming together - the colour of your skin and where you're from doesn't matter.
Frenkie de Jong believes "Black Lives Matter" ✊
"Sport can play a big role [in the fight against racism] as you can reach many people."
"We decided it would be good to make a statement that everyone's the same."
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| Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong warms up with Argentine teammate Lionel Messi before a La Liga match. Photo: TimClayton/Corbis via Getty |
'Life is not how it used to be'
"I didn't have the virus but life isn't how it used to be," said De Jong.
"I've spent a lot of time with my girlfriend, we were in Holland and we could go out - the situation was a bit more comfortable than in Spain."
Frenkie de Jong and girlfriend Mikky Kiemeney ❤ "I will always have your back" 👇
Learning from Lionel
"If Lionel Messi is talking and giving you advice you take it as he is by far the best player in the world. If he gives advice, you listen. Sometimes he says you have to be deeper or to the side, small things but it makes the difference."
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