At a glance
- Ajax look to be FC Barcelona’s opponent in the next Joan Gamper Trophy match.
- A meeting between the two clubs he’s most commonly associated with would act as a tribute to Johan Cruyff in the year of the 10th anniversary since his passing.
- It’ll also be a special moment for Frenkie de Jong, who joined Barca from Ajax in 2019.
FC Barcelona are in advanced talks to face Ajax in the Joan Gamper Trophy Match this summer, according to SPORT.
Held in August, the Gamper acts as a campaign opener for Culers. It’s where the Barca squad is introduced to the Camp Nou, and the captain makes a speech to Culers.
Amid negotiations breaking down with RB Leipzig, the Amsterdam outfit will be the Blaugrana’s opponent in 2026.
This is a year that has special significance for both clubs. After all, they’re inextricably linked by arguably their most important historical figure in Johan Cruyff.
As Pol has previously explored, Cruyff is fundamental to FC Barcelona. As a player then manager, he changed its philosophy while having a heavy hand in the overhaul of La Masia.
At Ajax, he won three consecutive European Cups from 1971 to 1973 plus Ballon d’Ors in both of those years. It was this kind of form which pushed FC Barcelona to smash the world transfer record at the time and pay 75 million pesetas (roughly £920,000) for him. While donning Blaugrana, he was again deemed the greatest player on the planet in 1974.
Barcelona Vs. Ajax will also be special for Frenkie de Jong
Surpassing Cruyff and Ronald Koeman as the Dutch player with the most appearances (263) for Barca, a meeting with Ajax will also hold special resonance for Frenkie de Jong.
He did similar to Cruyff by joining the Catalans from Ajax directly in 2019. Closing in on his third La Liga title in four years, the number 21 is becoming somewhat of a modern day club legend in Catalonia too.
To truly enter the pantheon of greats, however, De Jong must replicate Koeman in ’92 – and Cruyff in the 1970s – by conquering the continent.
With semifinal and quarterfinal defeats over the past two terms, a Champions League dream is simultaneously close and far away. But as Pau Cubarsi said recently, “anything is possible” at this club.
