Pau Cubarsí gives his verdict on Frenkie de Jong playing at center-back for Barcelona

According to a report by Barca Blaugranes on Tuesday October 13, 2026, Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí has shared his thoughts on Frenkie de Jong potentially playing as a centre-back after Hansi Flick reportedly experimented with the Dutchman in the position during training.

De Jong recently returned to training after recovering from a knee injury sustained during the World Cup. His possible deployment in defence could give Flick another tactical option as he looks to fit the midfielder into his starting lineup.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Cubarsí praised De Jong’s quality but suggested that his natural midfield role remains the best position for him.

“He has a spectacular level [anywhere], but in his position he is one of the best in the world and he will perform at his best in that position; he will be very important for the squad,” Cubarsí said.

De Jong has previous experience playing at centre-back for both Barcelona and Ajax, meaning the role would not be entirely unfamiliar to him. Using him in defence could also allow Flick to retain Rodri and Pedri in midfield without having to drop either player.

However, it remains unclear whether Flick intends to use De Jong regularly in defence or whether the training experiment is simply an alternative option.

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