According to a report by Barca Universal on Tuesday November 10, 2026, Frenkie de Jong, a midfielder for Barcelona, has said that he would be honored to replace Virgil van Dijk as captain of the Netherlands.

Instead of depending on his vocal prowess on the pitch, the Dutch international thinks he can lead through his professionalism and actions.

After overcoming an injury that halted his summer training, De Jong is making his international return. Coming off the bench to help Barcelona control the game, he impressed during their recent 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid.

After spending time coaching the midfielder at Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez has brought him back to the Netherlands squad to lead the team. It has come to light that De Jong could take over as captain in the event that Van Dijk is unable to do so.

The Barcelona star said that the national team manager has the last say when asked about the possibility. Nonetheless, he would be more than happy to take on the role if chosen.

He was aware of Van Dijk's outspoken leadership style, but he thinks he can make a more significant impact with his demeanor and competence. In addition, De Jong said that while playing with Lionel Messi at Barcelona, Messi shaped his view of captaincy.

He likened his prospective leadership style to a hybrid of Van Dijk's outspokenness and Messi's composed authority.

The midfielder complimented the clarity of Xavi's footballing philosophy and spoke with the Netherlands about the manager's tactical ideas. He did concede that it had been easier to adjust to the system since he remembered certain patterns from their time together in Barcelona.

Also, De Jong would be open to playing alongside Joey Veerman, a midfielder for Borussia Dortmund, and he emphasized that great players can complement each other no matter where they are on the field.

At last, the 28-year-old gave an encouraging report regarding his health. Following a challenging injury spell, he has stated that he is healthy, motivated, and prepared to play again.