De Jong praises Messi: “If he gives you advice, just listen”

FC Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong has assured that when his teammate Leo Messi gives him “advice” he limits himself to “listening”, since he is “the best player in the world” And he is aware of “little things that make the difference”, and he stated that the pressure in the team is “very high”, but that he “loves” that ambition to “play well and win everything”.

“If Leo Messi talks and gives you advice, take it because he is the best player in the world. If he gives you advice, you listen. Sometimes it tells you that you have to be deeper or fall to the side, little things but they make the difference, “he explained in an interview to BBC Radio 5 Live.

On the other hand, the Dutchman recognized that Ajax and Barça are “very similar in the way they see football”, and that is why they are comfortable with the Catalan team. “I am very happy here, playing at Barça was a dream since I was little because it is my favorite club outside the Netherlands. When they came and were so interested in me, they made it easier for me to sign. At Barça the goal is to play well and win everything. The pressure is very high and you want to win every title, but I love that, “he stressed.

Upon returning from training, he acknowledged that the entire squad had “a lot of desire” to see each other again. “The most difficult thing was when we had to train in small groups. The limitations we had were necessary, but it was tough. There is a very good atmosphere. We really want to compete, the sessions are very intense, I think even more than before the stop, “he explained.

Now, on the restart of LaLiga Santander, he believes he can “improve” its benefits. “Things are going well and I am very happy with the team and everything in general. I can play in various positions, I am very comfortable anywhere in the midfield “, He stated, and assured that after watching games without an audience in the Bundesliga “the environment is totally different.”

Finally, De Jong highlighted the 'Black Lives Matter' movement and called on the sport to fight racism, in a week of protests in the United States over the murder of the African-American citizen George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis. “In our dressing room we have players from South America, the Netherlands, Spain, from all over the world. The color of the skin and where you are from does not matter. Sport can play a big role in the fight against racism, “he concluded.