Frenkie de Jong tipped to become Barcelona’s leader after Lionel Messi retires

Former Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder has tipped Frenkie de Jong to become Barcelona’s leader after Lionel Messi retires.

The 35-year-old thinks De Jong made the right choice swapping Ajax for Barcelona last summer and thinks he can go on to have a big role at the Camp Nou.

“De Jong made the best choice because he understood that his football is perfect for Spain and Barcelona.

“De Ligt chose differently but Frenkie made the perfect decision for his life. De Ligt a different choice but in my opinion De Jong is forward-looking.

“He did very well to choose Barcelona: it is a club suitable for him, when Messi will stop with football Frenkie will become even more leader.”

Sneijder | Source

De Jong has been talking about the influence Messi has on the team recently. He told BBC Sport that “If he gives advice, you listen” and that the captain’s words usually “make the difference.”