Barcelona new boy Frenkie de Jong is convinced he can gel with Arthur and is “eager to play” with the Brazil international.

De Jong, 22, will join up with his new team-mates next month after a €75 million move was secured from Ajax in January.

The arrival of the highly rated Netherlands international has led to questions about whether Arthur may need to step aside after a promising debut campaign. But he insisted there is room for both in the La Liga title winners’ midfield.

“He [Arthur] is a great player. He is technical, he is calm, he is very, very good and I really want to play, I am eager to play with him,” De Jong told Esporte Interativo.

“Of course we can play together, why not?”

Ajax and Netherlands centre-back Matthijs de Ligt continues to be linked with following in his compatriot’s footsteps. Amid strong interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Manchester United, De Jong could offer no insight.

He stated: “It’s his [De Ligt’s] decision. He must decide his future with his family and friends and we’ll see where he goes.”

De Jong scored five times in 89 appearances for Ajax. He should be in situ at Barca to take part in next month’s pre-season’s tour of Japan.