Memphis and De Jong: The Dutch connection continues

Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong played 30 minutes side-by-side in Barça jerseys for the first time against Girona on Saturday, but they already know each other perfectly well from their time defending the Dutch national colours. 

From the warm-up and the jokes the duo shared with each other, it was clear at the Estadi Johan Cruyff that they don’t just have a footballing connection, but have a personal one too. 

Once the game began, they were unable to produce a goal together, but there were three instances in which their partnership came very close to doing so. The two celebrated together after Memphis converted a debut penalty, and after the game, and as the following image shows, the smiles continued. 

28 games together 

De Jong and Memphis have played 28 times together for Holland, winning 18 of those games, and they were both ever-presents in Ronald de Boer’s side at Euro 2020. 

De Jong has twice provided assists for Memphis, something we hope to replicated several times in the blaugrana jersey. 

• 6/9/18. Holland v Peru. Friendly. Memphis, then of Lyon, scored in the 60^th minute from a pass off De Jong, then of Ajax. It was the first game they had ever played together. 
• 10/10/19. Holland v Northern Ireland. Euro 2020 qualifier. Memphis, still at Lyon, scored off a last-minute assist from De Jong, who by then had signed for Barça. 

First time in 15 years 

With Ronald Koeman on the bench and De Jong and Memphis on the field, there is an oranje feel to Barça once again.

In fact, it’s the first time since the Champions League Final in 2006 that Barça has had two Dutch players together. Against Arsenal in Paris, and also under a Dutch coach, Frank Rijkaard, Gio Van Bronckhorst and Mark Van Bommel were both in the winning side. 

The starting eleven that played Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final

May the latest Hollander partnership at FC Barcelona produce as much joy as so many others that have come before!