According to a report by Barca Universal on Monday, November 9, 2026, Netherlands manager Xavi Hernandez has shared his thoughts on Frenkie de Jong's unusual deployment at right-back during Barcelona's 2-1 comeback victory over Atletico Madrid.

The former Barcelona manager acknowledged that De Jong has the ability to adapt to different positions on the pitch but made it clear that he prefers the midfielder to operate in the centre of the park when representing the Netherlands.

De Jong caught the attention of football fans with his impressive performance at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday. The Dutch international was introduced by Hansi Flick at half-time and initially played as a right-back during the second half.

However, the 29-year-old eventually returned to his familiar midfield position after Eric Garcia was brought into the defensive line. His contribution helped Barcelona maintain control of the encounter as they completed an important victory over Atletico.

During his latest press conference, Xavi was asked about Barcelona's decision to use De Jong in defence. The Netherlands coach explained that he does not intend to deploy the midfielder in such a position for the national team, despite previously experimenting with him as a centre-back during his time at Barcelona.

Xavi also praised the player's remarkable versatility, highlighting his ability to perform effectively in different midfield roles.

The Dutch manager explained that De Jong has the necessary qualities to play as either a defensive midfielder or a central midfielder. Nevertheless, his comments made it clear that he believes the middle of the pitch is where the Barcelona star can make the greatest impact.

Meanwhile, De Jong's encouraging display against Atletico represents a positive development following his recent injury struggles. His return to competitive action could provide a significant boost for the Netherlands ahead of their upcoming international assignments.

Xavi has included the Barcelona midfielder in his squad for the Netherlands' final two Nations League group-stage matches. The Dutch national team will host Greece on November 13 before travelling to Berlin to face Germany three days later.

The Netherlands currently occupy the top position in Group A2 with eight points from four matches. Greece have also collected eight points, while Germany sit third with five points as the competition approaches its decisive stage.