Wire flash
Barcelona allow De Jong to continue vacation with conservative treatment, expected to be sidelined for 3-4 months
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
According to Diario Sport, FC Barcelona has decided to allow Frenkie de Jong to continue his vacation while undergoing conservative treatment for a right knee injury sustained during the World Cup. The injury, initially thought minor, was confirmed as serious after further tests, though no significant ligament damage was found. De Jong will return to the team this weekend for a clearer diagnosis and to decide on the next treatment steps. Barcelona expects him to be sidelined for 3 to 4 months. Despite De Jong being a core player for coach Hansi Flick, the club will not sign a new midfielder in the summer window to cover his absence. Flick will instead rely on Bernal, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Fermín, and potentially B-team players or versatile options like Eric García and Christensen. The club also insists on selling Casadó.
Source report
Hupu Football News | July 21
According to Mundo Deportivo, Frenkie de Jong is set to return to Barcelona's training base in the coming days following his vacation. The club will determine the next course of treatment based on the condition of his right knee injury.
Injury Background
De Jong played through discomfort during the World Cup, where he represented the Netherlands. He experienced knee issues in the final two matches of the tournament. Initially considered minor, the situation worsened last week.
- Last Monday, as Barcelona's first team began preseason training, De Jong visited the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper for a medical check-up.
- At that time, his right knee was visibly swollen, which prevented the completion of some tests.
- Preliminary examinations confirmed an injury, but severe inflammation delayed full testing.
- Further tests conducted a few days later revealed the injury to be more serious than initially thought.
- Fortunately, no significant knee ligament damage was found.
Current Treatment Plan
Barcelona and De Jong have agreed on a conservative treatment approach. The player will continue his vacation while undergoing recovery training. When De Jong returns to the team this weekend, the club expects to obtain a clearer diagnosis and decide on next steps together with the player.
De Jong had originally planned to rejoin Hansi Flick's training this week after the Netherlands' World Cup round-of-16 exit to Morocco on penalties. That plan has now been postponed.
Reported sidelined duration: 3 to 4 months.
Tactical Implications
Although De Jong remains a core player in Flick's tactical system, the German coach is aware that the club will not sign a new midfielder in the summer window to cover his absence. Additionally, the sports management still insists on selling Casadó.
Midfield Options for the Start of the Season
Flick will build the midfield with:
- Bernal
- Pedri
- Gavi
- Dani Olmo
- Fermín (largely recovered from his World Cup injury and available for preseason training)
He can also call up B-team players such as:
- Tomi Márquez
- Xavi Espart (primarily played as a full-back under Flick last season, but featured in midfield during the recent U19 European Championship)
Versatile players Eric García and the recently renewed Christensen can also be deployed in midfield.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
International Football News
Posted in Shanghai | Reads: 226
All Replies
32 strong, playing through injury, can't understand the thinking Likes (0) | Reply
No more replies
Source
虎扑 - 足球Regional
Part of this Story
Barcelona's De Jong Faces Four-Month Layoff with Serious Knee Injury