Barcelona coach Xavi explains holding back Frenkie De Jong | OneFootball

Barcelona coach Xavi insists he hasn't wrote off Frenkie de Jong.

The midfielder started on the bench against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey.

“He has to be an important player, and he will be. He just came back from calf problems," said Xavi.

De Jong has not been at his best this season and his recent form has also been disrupted by injury. His performance when he came on was disappointing, as was his first start after injury, against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.

He has played 118 games for Barcelona, scoring 10 goals and giving 14 assists.