This isn’t the case in LaLiga. He’s been pretty bad at Barca defensively. There is basically a full article dedicated to this:
https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/...renkie-de-jong-man-united-interested-big-deal
At Ajax, he was good defensively, but for some reason, he has been poor at Barca. And when you compare him to other deep lying playmakers — Veratti, Kante (more a DM) and Thiago (this one shocked me), he is abysmal. 3rd percentile in pressures, 8th in tackles, 10th in interceptions.
Either the level-up from Eredivise to La Liga was physically too much for him, or his responsibilities changed, but he’s been pretty poor. Maybe Ten Hag can re-ignite that passion for defense, or alter his responsibilities to mimic his Ajax role? But he is not a DM and I really wish people would realize this. He would come to United for his ball progression abilities,
passing and movement, not to hack down 9s and 10s.