Koeman: De Ligt and De Jong have very different personalities

One is always smiling and the other one is very serious

Former Barcelona defender and current Netherlands coach has spoken about the contrasting personalities of two of the Dutch team’s biggest stars. Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong both play for the Netherlands and Ajax, although both are leaving the Amsterdam club this summer. De Jong is going to Barcelona, and De Ligt may follow, but that part is not definitive.

In an interview with De Volkskrant, Koeman contrasted the pair’s personalities:

“Frenkie de Jong is really a nice boy, always a smile on his face. That’s how he plays football, that’s how he trains. Regardless of the level against whom he plays, wherever he is, he is himself. You also see a difference between De Ligt and Frenkie. Matthijs is very focused on training and extra training. I was in a taxi with Matthijs once. He only asked questions: about [Hristo] Stoichkov, Romario, and [Michael] Laudrup, formerly at Barcelona. Who was the best, who was the best striker you played against? He knew a lot. If you ask many of this generation about my football era, not everyone knows that anymore.“

De Ligt has been strongly linked with a move to Barça, but several big European players are making their moves as well.

Koeman has been linked with taking over for Ernesto Valverde at Barcelona, but the coach himself has said it is not the right moment.