Ajax Star Frenkie De Jong Has Outlined His Ambitions At Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong has revealed that he has long-term ambitions to build a legacy at Barcelona.

In the January transfer window, the Spanish club signed the 21-year-old Dutch midfielder from Ajax for a reported fee of £65m.

While he might not arrive at the Camp Nou until 1st July, the Ajax star has said that he wants to be successful in La Liga and have the same longevity as Lionel Messi at the club.

"Initially the interest went through my agent, who talked to the clubs, but when it became more serious, I came in," he told Het Kontakt.

"Paris Saint-Germain was a good option, but Barcelona has always been a dream, and I'm happy with my five-year contract.

"If I succeed, then the chances are that I will never leave, just like Messi."

De Jong also revealed the shirt number that he would like to wear at Barcelona, but the Netherlands international doesn't agree with one aspect of the kit.

"In July, I sign my official contract in Barcelona and I am also being presented to the fans and the press," he explained.

"Playing with 21 [as a squad number] would be nice because that is kind of my number.

"The selection for the new season is not yet known, so I'll have to wait and see.

"There is an idea to play with 'Frenkie' on the back of the shirt. Nike prefers that from the point of view of merchandising. I'm not sure if I want to."

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu recently revealed that the club are already planning ahead to a future without Messi.

According to the 56-year-old Spaniard, the reigning La Liga champions are not looking for one player to replace the 31-year-old Argentine ace.

In fact, Bartomeu wants Barça to continue building on their talent pool and de Jong is the first of many rising stars to arrive at the club as they prepare for the post-Messi era.

Will de Jong be successful at Barcelona?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, Lionel Messi, Ajax, Spain, Nike, Frenkie De Jong, La Liga, Camp Nou

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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