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Barcelona kicked off their preseason preparations this week, but the mood has quickly turned anxious; Frenkie de Jong has reportedly suffered a serious knee injury that could keep him out for an extended period.
According to MARCA, De Jong arrived at Barcelona on Monday for standard medical evaluations ahead of preseason. It was during those assessments that the club discovered the concerning condition of the Dutchman's right knee.
A formal diagnosis is still awaited, with De Jong set to undergo additional tests in the days ahead. Nevertheless, Barcelona fear the veteran midfielder could miss as many as four months of action, per MARCA.
AS reports that De Jong arrived early for Barcelona's preseason camp, but the swelling around his right knee prevented the club from obtaining an immediate diagnosis.
Injuries have plagued De Jong throughout his time at Barcelona, particularly in recent seasons. Following a contract renewal last October, De Jong missed 13 matches for Barça down the stretch due to a hamstring problem. He managed to recover in time to represent the Netherlands at his second World Cup, but his persistent injury woes appear to have resurfaced.
De Jong Played World Cup Despite Knee Discomfort
Despite not starting a single match for Barcelona since February 16, De Jong featured from the opening whistle in all six games the Netherlands played this summer—two pre-tournament friendlies and four World Cup fixtures.
However, Barcelona are reportedly furious over how the Netherlands managed De Jong's knee problem. According to AS, the Dutch midfielder was given painkilling injections to ensure his availability for the Oranje's final two tournament matches against Tunisia and Morocco.
De Jong's right knee was heavily strapped during the closing stages of his tournament run, and he was spotted applying a large ice pack to it following the victory over Sweden. Despite this, he played 110 minutes against Morocco in the round of 32, where the Netherlands ultimately exited the World Cup in a penalty shootout.
This marks the second occasion in under a year that Barcelona have been left outraged by their players being fielded while injured during international duty. Hansi Flick publicly criticized Spain last September for administering painkillers to Lamine Yamal so he could participate in two World Cup qualifying matches. The young star missed nearly a month of football upon returning to Catalonia.
De Jong's Injury Could Alter Barcelona's Transfer Plans
Should Barcelona's worst-case scenario materialize and De Jong faces a prolonged absence, the club may be compelled to rethink its summer transfer approach, particularly regarding potential departures.
Marc Casadó slipped down the midfield hierarchy last season and his future at Barcelona seemed uncertain heading into the summer, with reported interest from the Saudi Pro League along with clubs in Spain and Italy. However, in light of De Jong's injury, Barcelona have reportedly put the brakes on any discussions surrounding Casadó's exit, per Matteo Moretto.
"No one can question my desire to stay," Casadó told Catalan radio recently, via Sport. "If someone tells me they don't want me here, then we'll need to find the best outcome for everyone involved."
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La Masia prospects Tommy Marques and Brian Fariñas had been expected to climb the midfield depth chart in the event of Casadó's departure.
What remains evident is that regardless of the length of De Jong's absence, Barcelona will most likely address the gap using existing squad options rather than pursuing a replacement in the transfer market.