"I'm willing to take risks to play in the EURO"

De Jong suffered a sprained ankle in the last ‘Clasico’ played in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu. An injury that has been causing him problems ever since and which, he hopes, will not get in his way again.

"I am willing to take some risks to play the European Championship with the Netherlands, but the most important thing for me is that it doesn't turn into a chronic ankle injury. That's not the case yet and that's why I haven't had surgery on my ankle," he told the NOS.

De Jong said the latest injury is his "third ankle injury of the season". "There is no instability, it's just that the second time maybe I started playing too early and the injury was still in my head," he said.

The Netherlands will kick off the European Championship against Poland and the Barcelona player hopes to be present at the event: "June 16 is circled. If everything goes as I hope and if I don't have any problems with my ankle, it's possible to play in the tournament."

"We have a plan in mind, but it will depend on how the ankle holds up and if I will be fit in time. I keep working individually, then I have to join the group and then work towards a situation where I can get playing time. This could actually happen during the tournament as well. There are no strict deadlines, but there must be the possibility to participate in matches. Otherwise, there is no point in staying," he said of his recovery plan.

Finally, he made it clear that his future is at Camp Nou, in case anyone still had any doubts: "I want to stay at Barcelona, I'm very happy here".