ไทย
English
中國人
Barcelona and Frenkie de Jong find themselves at an impasse over the Dutchman's recovery from a knee injury he sustained during the World Cup before returning to Catalonia.
De Jong was a key figure in a Netherlands side that was eliminated from the tournament by Morocco in a round of 32 penalty shootout. The midfielder had been managing a persistent issue throughout the competition but was told by the Oranje's medical staff that his "minor" knee problem would not deteriorate if he kept playing.
However, that assessment turned out to be incorrect, as Barça subsequently confirmed that De Jong had sustained a partial MCL tear, stating: "The player will continue to receive treatment under the supervision of the club's medical staff, with his progress to be evaluated over the coming weeks."
Nearly three weeks have elapsed since Barça's announcement, and with little sign of improvement, the club is now pushing for De Jong to have surgery.
Frenkie de Jong Continuing to Resist Barcelona's Surgery Plea
According to SPORT, Barcelona are growing increasingly impatient with De Jong's refusal to undergo knee surgery.
The midfielder has opted for a more conservative approach to his recovery, with the initial prognosis suggesting he could be out for three months. That treatment, however, has so far failed to deliver the anticipated results, leading the club to conclude that surgery is the most effective path to getting De Jong back on the pitch. Despite this, the player remains unwilling to go under the knife, preferring to allow the conservative treatment additional time to work.
Yet that is not the only source of Barça's frustration.
The club also suspects that De Jong may have held back toward the end of last season in order to arrive at the World Cup in top shape. He had not completed a full 90 minutes in Blaugrana colors since Feb. 22, yet he started all four of the Netherlands' matches at the summer tournament and played the full 90 minutes in two of them.
In response to such allegations, De Jong stated: "It's hard for me to see people questioning my relationship and commitment to the club based on false reports.
"Football means everything to me. I have always given my all for Barcelona and my country," he added.
Is Rodri a Frenkie de Jong Replacement?
Barcelona moved swiftly for Manchester City midfielder Rodri following De Jong's injury, jumping ahead of Real Madrid in the race for the Spaniard's signature.
Madrid had been heavily linked with a move earlier in the transfer window, but Rodri is said to favor a move to Catalonia on the back of an impressive World Cup campaign with champions Spain.
Enable functional cookies to see this feature.
Man City have so far rejected Barça's approaches, though a deal is reportedly close. His arrival would help cover De Jong's absence in the near term and could potentially pave the way for the Dutchman to depart next summer. He signed a contract extension last year, keeping him at the club until 2029, which also aligns with Barcelona's updated wage structure.
While De Jong has been a key player under Hansi Flick and is in the running to become the club's next captain, he has been plagued by a series of fitness issues.
Gavi and Pedri are virtually untouchable, and La Masia product Marc Bernal may soon earn that same status. If a change eventually needs to be made in Barcelona's midfield, De Jong looks the most likely candidate to make way.