Barcelona players have undergone their mandatory medical examinations at the Catalan club’s headquarters, with Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo among those present. Neither player will join group training immediately following their participation in the 2026 World Cup.
De Jong’s World Cup journey ended in the Round of 32 after the Netherlands suffered a penalty shootout defeat against Morocco. Meanwhile, Araujo experienced an early exit in the group stage, with Uruguay finishing third behind Spain and Cape Verde, and ahead of Saudi Arabia.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the initial medical updates regarding De Jong are deeply concerning, as he is suffering from a knee injury that could sideline him for a significant period.
Injury Update: De Jong Sidelined for Months?
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Further Testing: The Dutch midfielder will undergo additional scans in the coming days to determine the exact nature of the injury.
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The Fear: A sense of “deep concern” is growing within the Catalan club. Management fears the injury is worse than initially thought, with speculation suggesting a layoff of up to four months.
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A History of Setbacks: This potential long-term absence continues a physically challenging period for De Jong, who missed a large portion of last season due to an ankle injury.
If De Jong’s lengthy absence is confirmed, Barcelona may be forced to alter their summer transfer strategy. The club might pivot to signing a new midfielder, shifting focus away from their current priority of landing a new striker.
