'One Day': Frenkie De Jong Still Dreaming of Future Barcelona Move After Ajax Make UCL Group Stages

Frenkie De Jong has confirmed that he will not be joining Barcelona this season after Ajax secured their qualification for the Champions League group stages on

Frenkie De Jong has confirmed that he will not be joining Barcelona this season after Ajax secured their qualification for the Champions League group stages on Tuesday.

The Amsterdam club drew 0-0 in the Ukraine against Dynamo Kiev to seal a 3-1 aggregate win, and book their place in Europe's premier club competition for the first time since the 2014/15 season.

It has been widely reported that Ajax would have sold De Jong to Barcelona if they had failed to reach the group stages, because they would have needed to make up the difference in revenue.

Look who's back 👀

Ajax make their group stage return! ❌❌❌#UCL pic.twitter.com/a6mCnXTuR1

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 28, 2018

Following on from Tuesday's result, De Jong confirmed that he would be staying at Ajax, but he refused to rule out a move to the Spanish champions in the future.

"I wanted to play for Barcelona and perhaps one day I will, but it won't be this season," the 21-year-old told NOS, quoted by Marca.

Sporting director Marc Overmars had always been keen to keep De Jong at the club under any circumstances, but it would have been a lot more difficult if Ajax had not progressed.

Now that he is certain of his immediate future, De Jong is looking forward to a "fun year", as Ajax aim to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2006, as well as attempting to break PSV Eindhoven's Eredivisie dominance.

Champions league, we meet again!❌❌❌ #ajax #championsleague https://t.co/bwWGxYzU5p pic.twitter.com/umqhSooOJS

— John Heitinga (@Johnheitinga) August 28, 2018

There is the possibility that De Jong will come up against Barcelona in the Champions League. Ajax are in pot 3 for Thursday's draw, while Barca are in pot 1.

"I would love to play against Barcelona," De Jong admitted.

De Jong, who is yet to be capped at senior level, has been named in the Netherlands' provisional squad to face Peru and France next month.