According to Barca Universal on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Frenkie de Jong has informed Barcelona manager Hansi Flick that he still sees himself primarily as a midfielder, despite being assigned defensive responsibilities on several occasions this season.

The 28-year-old is willing to perform any role required by the team but has made it clear that playing in defence is not something he views as a permanent solution.

The Netherlands international recently featured at right-back in Barcelona's 2-1 win against Atletico Madrid in La Liga. He had also been used as a centre-back by Flick during an earlier encounter with Alaves.

Although De Jong adapted well to both positions, he remains convinced that his best role is in the middle of the pitch.

In an interview with ESPN, the midfielder stated that he would never reject his manager's decision to deploy him defensively. However, he insisted that his identity as a midfielder should remain unquestioned.

He further explained that he is familiar with playing in defence, having previously been assigned similar responsibilities by former Ajax and Barcelona managers, including Ronald Koeman and Xavi Hernandez.

De Jong also spoke about the criticism he has received over his performances, arguing that many people do not fully understand his contribution to the team because they rarely watch complete matches.

He pointed out that goals and assists are frequently used to measure a player's effectiveness, even though such figures do not tell the whole story. The Dutchman acknowledged that his attacking statistics are not particularly impressive when compared with those of several other players.

Additionally, the Barcelona star discussed his physical condition after recovering from the injury he picked up during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He revealed that he currently feels strong and healthy but still requires some time to regain his previous level of match fitness.

When questioned about his ability to play all 90 minutes for the Netherlands, De Jong remained careful with his response. While expressing confidence in his current condition, he explained that he would rather evaluate his fitness before making a definite commitment.