Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong returns to Barcelona for knee rehab, expected out 3-4 months

Hupu Football News | 2 minutes ago

Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong has returned to Barcelona from Ibiza this Sunday, according to reports from Daily Sports journalists Carlos Monfort and Juan Manuel Díaz. The Dutch midfielder will now focus on recovering from the knee injury he sustained during the 2026 World Cup.

Recovery Plan

De Jong will not travel with the squad to England on Monday for the preseason training camp. Instead, he will remain at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper for rehabilitation. Meanwhile, Barcelona players who have already begun preseason preparations will train under head coach Hansi Flick at the St. George's Park training base in England.

Injury Details

The past few weeks have been challenging for De Jong. He played in the World Cup despite existing knee issues, ultimately pushing himself too hard to continue. During the crucial match against Morocco, De Jong was unable to finish the game, and the Netherlands were subsequently eliminated. Follow-up examinations confirmed that his knee injury had developed into a tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

This is a significant injury requiring careful management. With an appropriate recovery period, the player can fully recover; however, returning too early or forcing the process could worsen the condition.

Treatment and Timeline

De Jong has opted for conservative treatment and will not undergo surgery. He will now undergo rehabilitation and physical recovery at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. According to current estimates, the midfielder will be sidelined for 3 to 4 months. Beyond managing pain or discomfort, the primary goal at this stage is to restore stability to the knee joint to avoid affecting the meniscus.

Player Statement

After days of waiting for clarity on the specifics of his injury, De Jong previously released a lengthy statement explaining his condition and reaffirming his full commitment to both Barcelona and the Dutch national team.

In the statement, De Jong said:

"It's hard for me to see some people questioning my relationship with the club and my commitment to the club based on false information."

He added:

"During the World Cup, I injured my knee. The doctors told me it was a minor injury and that continuing to play wouldn't make it worse. During the holidays, I returned to Barcelona for more tests, and the results showed the injury was more serious than initially thought."

Club Approach

After resting for several days and processing the situation, De Jong has now returned to Barcelona and is preparing to work toward returning to 100% fitness as soon as possible. Following Hansi Flick's usual approach, the club will not put pressure on the player but will give De Jong sufficient time to return in optimal condition.

Barcelona currently has several high-level midfielders in the squad, and the emergence of Bernal has also helped alleviate the pressure on De Jong, allowing him to complete his rehabilitation without the urgency of an immediate return.

Source: Daily Sports