Edwin van de Sar has compared Barcelona-bound Frenkie de Jong to both Eden Hazard and Isco ahead of Ajax’s Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
De Jong is available for the first leg of Wednesday’s last 16 leg after recovering from an adductor injury and all eyes will be on the 21-year-old when he lines up against Santiago Solari’s side.
The Netherlands international will complete his move to the Nou Camp in the summer with former Manchester United goalkeeper van der Sar, now serving as Ajax’s CEO, paying a glowing tribute to the club’s latest star.
“He reminds me a bit of Isco at Real Madrid, that low centre of gravity, and even Eden Hazard, the way he dribbles and tries to beat people,” van der Sar told AFP.
”Frenkie does that too, but through midfield.”
Barcelona have also been strongly linked with de Jong’s teammate Matthijs de Ligt, one of Europe’s most coveted young defenders.
Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars placed Barcelona at the top of the list of clubs trying to sign the centre-half in December, with van der Sar noting his side have an “excellent” relationship with the Catalan giants.
