Makkah police arrest Yemeni and Egyptian suspects of fake Hajj campaign    400-800 year old giant coral colony discovered within AMAALA waters in the Red Sea    HR Ministry launches 'Ajeer Al-Hajj' service for seasonal work during Hajj 2025    Kafalah grants 1,900 loan guarantees worth over SR4.8 billion to SMEs during 1Q 2025    Council of Senior Scholars reaffirms performing Hajj without a permit is a sinful act    Syria thanks Saudi Arabia and Qatar for settling World Bank dues    King and Crown Prince offer condolence to Iranian president over the deadly port explosion    stc reports strong first-quarter 2025 results with 11% rise in net profit    Virgin Atlantic celebrates one month of nonstop service between London and Riyadh    Saudi Awwal Bank records SR2.1 billion net profit after zakat and income tax for 1Q25    Mahmoud Abbas appoints Hussein Al-Sheikh as PLO vice president in key succession move    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Iran following deadly Bandar Abbas port explosion    Saudi orchestra to perform at Sydney Opera House in May    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Inspired by Cruyff, De Jong keen to make mark at Barca
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 29 - 07 - 2019

When Barcelona announced in January they had signed Frenkie de Jong from Ajax, the midfielder became the latest in an illustrious pipeline of Dutch imports to the Catalan club.
Since Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff brought Dutch 'Total Football' to Barcelona in the 1970s, there has been a steady stream of talent moving south from the Netherlands.
De Jong is proud to join the likes of compatriots Ronald Koeman, Frank de Boer and Patrick Kluivert in heading to the Nou Camp, having dreamed of wearing Barca colors.
"I think it is because of Cruyff," De Jong told Reuters in Kobe during Barcelona's pre-season tour of Japan.
"He changed the club a bit, of course, and I think his influence was really big on Barcelona."
In two pre-season games, De Jong, who excelled for Ajax on their run to the Champions League semifinals last season, has already shown promising signs.
With his precise passing and energetic press in defense, the 22-year-old appears the perfect midfielder for Barcelona's unique style.
"We have spoken about that and I have spoken to the trainer about that as well," said De Jong, who joined Ajax's famed youth academy in 2015.
"But I think the style and the vision of Ajax and Barcelona is a bit similar so it is not that big of a difference to me."
De Jong has joined established names such as Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic, winners of 12 La Liga titles between them, at the heart of coach Ernesto Valverde's midfield.
De Jong said the pair had helped him settle in and he looked forward to learning from them.
"Everyone is helping me a lot, from the players to the staff, to the club," said De Jong.
"Of course, I have watched a lot of matches of Barcelona over the past years, so I know they are amazing players.
"I have been looking up to them and they are a bit of an example to me."
On Saturday, De Jong was involved in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Japanese side Vissel Kobe, now home to Barcelona great Andreas Iniesta.
Having returned to Barcelona, De Jong may make his Nou Camp debut in a pre-season friendly against Arsenal on Aug. 4 before the La Liga season-opener against Athletic Bilbao on Aug. 17.
De Jong has been brought in partly to fill the gigantic hole left by Iniesta and midfield partner Xavi at Barcelona.
While respectful to the greats of Barcelona's past, De Jong is determined to write his own history at the Nou Camp.
"If he has any tips for me they are welcome of course but I think he was so talented that it is difficult to copy him," De Jong said of Iniesta.
"That is not my goal." — Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.