De Jong move makes global headlines
It was not just FC Barcelona that was abuzz with the news of Frenkie de Jong’s move from Ajax. It was the sports story of the day as one of the most talked about young stars in the game opted for the Catalan capital ahead of other interest from the likes of París Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
Catalonia and Spain
The Catalan dailies were naturally thrilled by the news, with Sport’s front page describing it as a ‘Bomb!’ (in news-speak that’s a good thing…) and El Mundo Deportivo proclaiming in huge letters: ‘De Jong signed’ and describing it as a’ strategic signing’.
Over in Madrid, and perhaps as to be expected, the press preferred to focus their front pages on the fact that Barça had lost their cup game to Sevilla, but both Marca and As included ample coverage of the De Jong transfer on their inside pages, describing it in such terms as ‘a model signing’ and the player himself as ‘superlative’.
Big news in Holland
Naturally, the Dutch press had plenty to say on the matter. De Telegraaf, Volskrant and TV station NOS all made a big thing of the story, and commented on the long-standing relationship between their country’s talent and FC Barcelona.
UEFA: Once in a generation
UEFA’s official website published a long feature praising the Dutchman, saying that “Frenkie de Jong, the latest stellar talent to make his name at Ajax, is set to join Barcelona next summer. Still only 21, De Jong has long been touted as the next big thing – a once-in-a-generation player whose style straddles that of an old-style libero, a deep-lying playmaker and a more conventional central midfielder. No6, No8 and No10 all rolled into one.”
The article goes on to compare him to Sergio Busquets and other midfield maestros to have come out of La Masia, and also other big Dutch names that have donned the blaugrana shirt over the years, including Cruyff, Neeskens, Koeman, Kluivert, Overmars and the De Boer brothers.
All around the world
L’Équipe (France), Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy), Bild (Germany) … wherever you look, you’ll find De Jong’s name all over the sports news. In Argentina, Olé describes him as “A perfect little pal for Messi” and Lance is just one of many leading Brazilian journals to express its admiration for the new Barça signing.
Here’s a collection of just a few of the English language articles published in online media in the wake of one of the transfer stories of the year:
BBC (UK): Frenkie de Jong: Barcelona to sign £65m Ajax and Netherlands midfielder
Guardian: UK: Frenkie de Jong to join Barcelona in €75m summer transfer from Ajax
Fox Sports (USA): Barcelona win race for young gun Frenkie De Jong
Sky Sports (UK): Frenkie de Jong to join Barcelona from Ajax in July
Mirror (UK): Virgil van Dijk sends message to Frenkie De Jong after he completes £65m transfer to Barcelona
Goal (UK): De Jong confirms Man City and PSG talks ahead of Barcelona move
CBS (USA): Barcelona signs Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong from Ajax for nearly $85.4 million
Sun (UK): GOING, GOING, JONG - The Dutch international has agreed a five-year deal at the Nou Camp and will link up with the La Liga giants in the summer
Evening Standard (UK): Barcelona confirm Frenkie de Jong signing, beating Man City to Ajax star
Express (UK): Frenkie De Jong's blockbuster move from Ajax to Barcelona only serves to highlight the genius of Manchester United, Liverpool and PSG deals in recent years
Sports Illustrated (US): Barcelona Signs Frenkie De Jong From Ajax for €75 Million