JAKARTA - Former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta believes that Frenkie de Jong will soon find his best game. Like a player who has just undergone his first season, Iniesta assessed that the Dutch national team player is still in the process of adaptation.
"De Jong has just arrived. He needs to adapt," Iniesta said as reported by Marca, Sunday, April 19.
Despite playing more often than Ivan Rakitic this season, De Jong seems to have not yet reached his best level of play. The public often compares the two.
However, Iniesta didn't like to compare the two. According to Iniesta, the two are difficult to compare because they have different styles of play.
"They are good players, and all Barcelona needs to do is emphasize their style of play. From that, Barca can put players who match that style of play," explained the 36-year-old midfielder.
Not only De Jong, Iniesta knows Griezmann is also experiencing a similar problem. Although Griezmann has played in La Liga for a long time and has faced Barcelona repeatedly, now playing for the Barca team is clearly a different experience.
"Griezmann is also similar to what De Jong experienced. Griezmann and whoever is a new Barca player who comes every year obviously needs time," said Iniesta.
"They have extraordinary talent and are clearly going to succeed and earn their place in the team which is not easy," he continued.
Iniesta does not in the least doubt the ability of De Jong and Griezmann, who are still struggling to live up to expectations at Barcelona. He believes the two players will become the new Camp Nou public idol.
Both were brought in in an ambitious project to build the Barca squad. The club invested heavily in these two players.
Barca spent 75 million euros to get De Jong from Ajax Amsterdam. Then paid Griezman's release clause of 120 million euros to get him from Atletico Madrid.
Iniesta knows that such a big price is a burden on both players. That's why Iniesta believes both of them need time to prove to the management and fans.
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