Pol Llonch: "De Ligt told me he hoped he would sign for Barça"

Pol Llonch, who signed for WIllem II this season, came through Espanyol's academy before spells at Girona, Granada and Wisla in Poland. After a year and a half there he packed his bags for a move to Holland with Willem II. He's a key man under coach Adrie Koster and has only missed three out of a possible 34 matches this season. With a contract until 2021, the player admitted he was happy in Holland but admitted that a move to LaLiga or the Premier League in the future would be too good to turn down.

Llonch's side, Willem II, played against Ajax last weekend and lost 4-1. But the two sides will meet yet again in the Dutch Cup Final which takes place on the 5th May.

After the match, Llonch gave SPORT an interview in which he spoke in detail about two men who are very popular in Barcelona: de Ligt and de Jong.

At Ajax there is a future Barça player and one which might also join him at the Camp Nou: de Jong and de Ligt. From what you've seen of him, what can you tell us about de Jong? You've been tasked with keeping him quite in these matches.

“He's a player which suits Barça's style completely. He's shown that he's one of the best players in Europe but he's still got a long way to go and has a lot of potential to grow even further. I think he's got the style and characteristics to play well at Barça and, as he'll be surrounded by the best players in the world, he could learn a lot more and play even better. He can be a '6', '8' or a '10' so is able to slot in anywhere across the midfield. He could develop really well at Barça."

And De Ligt?

“I don't know if they've signed him or not! I don't think so. But if he ends up at Barça, I think the same. He's even younger than De Jong at only 19 years old but is physically strong and defensively sound. It's difficult to get past him. He's well organised and always manages to cut out passes. He's a special character. To be the captain of Ajax at just 19 makes him a different player (to most) and I also think he could adapt well at Barça. It's true he might need to improve when it comes to playing out from the back to truly excel at Barça but I think he'll pick that up really quickly."

Do you think he could force his way into the first team at Barça?

“That's the difficult part. You've got Pique, Umtiti, Lenglet. They are so good. I don't know what will happen with Lenglet and Umtiti but Umtiti has jut won the World Cup and Pique is one of the best in the world. That's where De Ligt might not have the same amount of playing time that De Jong will. But I don't know, that's a decision for the player, Barça and a question of time. They could trust him straight away and put him into the side. But as I told you, Umtiti and Pique are two of the best centre backs in the world so it'd be difficult."

Before or after the match at the weekend, did you have the chance to speak with one of them - De Ligt or De Jong - or have any interaction with them?

“[Laughing]. To De Ligt, I asked him directly if he would end up signing for Barça and he told me that he hoped so, but that he didn't know anything at the moment. He said: 'I hope so.' I didn't speak with De Jong."