According to Sport, De Jong is nearing a return, but reclaiming his starting spot at Barcelona will not be easy. Rodri's arrival has reshaped Barcelona's midfield, and De Jong will face much tougher competition than before his injury. Former Dutch international Khalid Boulahrouz analyzed his compatriot's situation on Ziggo Sport, with his comments compiled by VoetbalPrimeur.

Boulahrouz is well aware that Rodri is indispensable in Flick's system. "As long as Rodri is there, I think that position will remain his. He is an undisputed starter and one of the best defensive midfielders in the world today. He can intercept, contribute to the attack, and makes an immediate impact. He is the best option for that position," said the former defender, who played for Chelsea and Sevilla.

With Rodri anchoring the defense and the more advanced roles typically going to Dani Olmo or Fermín López, De Jong will have to directly compete with Pedri for the only remaining midfield spot if he wants to secure a place.

"That will be a fierce battle between Pedri and Frenkie," Boulahrouz said with a laugh. "They are both excellent players. Personally, of course, I love watching Frenkie play. However, they are two different types of players. Frenkie is usually the first to receive the ball. He is important to the team whether he has the ball or not."

The former Dutch international also explained the differences between the two. "Pedri is more focused on playing the ball into the attackers. He is more of a link between the midfield and the attack. Frenkie is more of a connector, the player the team looks to first when building out from the back."

Despite the strong competition, Boulahrouz does not rule out the possibility of Flick starting all three midfielders simultaneously. "I think all three of them can play well together," he concluded.

De Jong's contract runs until 2029, and he is completing his recovery from the knee injury he sustained during the World Cup. Moving forward, he will need to convince Flick that he deserves to return to a starting midfield role, where he also faces competition from Bernal and Gavi. Meanwhile, there are rumors that Flick is even considering using him as a makeshift center-back.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com