Barcelona has been dealt a major blow ahead of the new season after medical tests confirmed that Frenkie de Jong suffered a tear in the internal lateral ligament of his right knee.
The Catalan club announced that the Dutch midfielder will undergo conservative treatment and medical monitoring to evaluate his recovery, without specifying an official timeline for his return to action.
De Jong revealed that the injury originally occurred while representing the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup. He explained that the national team’s medical staff assured him after initial scans that the injury was minor and would not worsen if he continued playing, leading him to feature in matches against Tunisia and Morocco.
However, upon returning to Barcelona during his vacation for further evaluations, comprehensive tests showed the injury was more severe than initially diagnosed. Nevertheless, De Jong confirmed that surgery is currently not required and that his focus remains on his rehabilitation program.
Recovery Timeline and Controversy with Netherlands Staff
Reports suggest De Jong could be sidelined for four to six months, potentially delaying his return until early 2027. While Barcelona has not officially confirmed a recovery window, the club is reportedly considering registering him under the long-term injury protocol—if prolonged absence is confirmed—to utilize a portion of his salary cap space for registering first-team players, a move that requires the player’s approval.
Addressing recent criticism, De Jong firmly rejected claims questioning his commitment, asserting that football is everything to him and expressing pride in representing both Barcelona and his country.
His statement follows media reports claiming manager Hansi Flick had lost trust in him after he reportedly declined to play against Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg, despite receiving medical clearance, in order to avoid risking his World Cup participation.
De Jong dismissed those reports regarding his dedication to the club as completely false. Meanwhile, other reports indicate that Barcelona’s frustration is primarily directed at the Dutch national team’s medical staff and head coach Ronald Koeman for allowing the midfielder to play through an injury.
