Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has claimed that the Premier League is tougher than La Liga.

Earlier this year, De Jong rejected interest from England in order to move to Camp Nou, already making 24 appearances in all competitions.

However, while enjoying his time at the Catalan giants, the Netherlands international has suggested that he has been left surprised by the standard of Spain's top flight.

The 22-year-old is quoted by The Mirror: "I used to think that La Liga was the strongest football league in the world. You could see their dominance in European Cup competitions. The Spanish clubs always progressed a long way and often grabbed the main trophies, the Champions League and Europa League.

"But the Premier League has gained power over the last few years. When it comes to pure skills, La Liga is better, but because of the sheer intensity, the English competition is at a slightly higher level."

De Jong allegedly turned down the advances of Manchester City before signing for Barcelona.