Frenkie de Jong will miss the next four months of action after scans at Barcelona revealed a serious knee injury.
What happened?
Barça’s medical staff sounded the alarm on Monday after Frenkie de Jong returned from duty with the Netherlands at the World Cup. Tests showed a significant knee injury, sparking deep concern inside the club. The 29-year-old had played through pain-killing injections to take the pitch for Oranje, but the scans now point to damage bad enough to sideline him until late November.
Why it matters for Frenkie de Jong
The setback lands just as De Jong was plotting his return to Barça’s midfield after a gruelling summer. The club now faces a long spell without its Dutch playmaker, a figure central to Xavi’s rebuild. His absence piles pressure on youngsters Pedri and Gavi to step up in midfield, while Barça’s pre-season and early La Liga fixtures loom without their metronome.
What comes next?
De Jong will begin rehabilitation under Barça’s physio team, with a four-month window pencilled in. The club’s medical chiefs will monitor progress daily, wary of any setback that could extend the layoff. Meanwhile, Barça must reshuffle their midfield plans before the transfer window closes and the league kicks off in August.
Reaction inside Camp Nou
Inside the dressing room, teammates reacted with shock to the news. One first-team player said: “We all knew he was carrying something, but this is worse than we feared.” Barça’s hierarchy has yet to comment publicly, but the injury report is expected by Wednesday.