Having firmly established himself, Frenkie de Jong is elevating Barcelona to new levels.

Barcelona’s resurgence under Hansi Flick has revitalised Frenkie de Jong, whose impactful presence has propelled his team to aim for remarkable achievements this season.

As the Catalan club chases an ambitious quadruple, they’ll face Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.

With De Jong back in form, Barcelona has noticeably stepped up, clawing their way back to the summit of La Liga and advancing steadily in European competitions.

Having last lifted the Champions League trophy in 2015, the team has endured several setbacks but now finds themselves among the frontrunners to claim the coveted title once again.

Last season marked their first return to the quarter-finals since 2020, and they are well-positioned to make it to the final four this year.

De Jong has developed a stylish partnership in Barcelona’s midfield alongside Pedri Gonzalez.

While both players may not be at their best when tasked with defensive duties, their collaboration has proven effective, enabling Barcelona to hold their ground defensively while thriving in attack.

“Teaming up with someone like Pedri makes everything much smoother,” De Jong remarked last week.

Flick praised the duo for their role in securing a Copa del Rey final berth with a victory away at Atletico Madrid.

“Frenkie and Pedri were simply outstanding, showing great bravery with the ball and maintaining possession,” he said enthusiastically.

It has been a challenging journey back for De Jong, who was overshadowed by Marc Casado until the turn of the year.

Initially, Flick relied on young midfielder Marc Bernal, but following his long-term injury, Casado took on the responsibility.

After suffering an injury in April 2024, De Jong only regained full fitness in October and was initially utilised sparingly.

“He needs to adapt to this scenario and rebuild his confidence,” Flick warned back in November.

As Barcelona’s performance tapered off toward the end of last year, Flick started deploying De Jong ahead of Casado, which quickly bore fruit.

The Catalans remain unbeaten in 22 matches throughout 2025, with De Jong featuring in only one of Barcelona’s six losses this season.

Casado subsequently picked up an injury that is likely to sideline him for the remainder of the season, but De Jong had already claimed his position by that time.

“Casa hasn’t made any mistakes… Frenkie is performing exceptionally well,” Flick noted.

“I had discussions with Frenkie on his first day here. He battled through a significant injury, coming back steadily and is now improving.”

“And now you can see just how beneficial he is to the team.”

Freedom to Flourish

De Jong was heralded as Sergio Busquets’ successor upon his arrival from Ajax in 2019 for a hefty €75 million (approximately AUD 82 million), fulfilling a lifelong dream.

However, after a promising start, it soon became evident that his dynamic style suffered when confined to a deeper position.

Years of inconsistent performances, recurring injuries, and attempts by the club to offload him due to financial pressures left De Jong in a precarious situation.

He had never fully integrated into the squad in a role that appeared ideally suited to him, and even now, his inclusion can make Barcelona slightly more vulnerable defensively.

Nevertheless, under Flick’s management, the team plays with renewed confidence, enjoying an entertaining style that has seen them score four or more goals on 20 occasions this season.

De Jong contributes significantly to the team’s attacking play, infusing quality and daring into their build-up.

“De Jong sprinting nearly 90 metres to join the attack shows the mentality and attitude of this team, which is fantastic,” Flick remarked after a 4-1 victory over Girona in March.

Off the pitch, De Jong’s situation has also shifted positively, with reports suggesting he might sign a new contract in the near future.

After a challenging five years in the Catalan capital, his journey seems to be finally taking a turn for the better.