ไทย
English
中國人
Barcelona have officially confirmed that midfielder Frenkie de Jong has sustained a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee. The injury will not require surgery, but will rule him out at the start of the 2026–27 campaign.
De Jong featured in every match for the Netherlands throughout their 2026 World Cup run, and was visibly spotted with heavy bandaging around his right knee. The Dutch international returned to Barcelona's preseason ahead of schedule to receive a proper diagnosis, and after more than a week of medical evaluations, the club officially disclosed the full extent of the injury.
"Tests carried out on first-team player Frenkie de Jong have confirmed a tear of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee," Barcelona stated in an official release.
"It has been agreed that the player will continue with conservative treatment under the supervision of the Club's medical staff. His progress will be monitored over the coming weeks."
The non-surgical treatment plan De Jong will undergo is expected to keep him sidelined for several weeks. However, should the conservative approach prove ineffective, an operation would become necessary, potentially extending his absence to as long as four months.
Barcelona are reportedly angered — not only at De Jong himself, but especially at the Dutch medical team — for permitting the midfielder to continue playing despite the visible knee problem.
De Jong Sets Record Straight on Knee Injury
Much of the frustration directed at De Jong stems from speculation that he prioritized his fitness for the World Cup over making a meaningful contribution to Barcelona during the final stretch of the 2025–26 season. De Jong had not started a single match for the club since February 22, spending the remainder of the campaign recovering from a hamstring problem.
He then went on to start every game for the Netherlands this summer, only to once again face a significant spell on the sidelines with his club. Amid the mounting criticism surrounding the situation, De Jong took to social media to publish a detailed statement presenting his perspective.
"During the World Cup, I got injured on my knee," De Jong wrote. "After the first assessments, the doctors told me it was a small injury and that it wouldn't get worse if I continued playing. The only challenge was playing with some pain, but throughout my career I have done that whenever I could contribute to the team, both for my club and my country.
"In my holiday, I returned to Barcelona for further examinations. These showed that the injury was more serious than initially determined. Thankfully, at this stage there is no need for surgery, and I am now fully focused on my recovery and returning to the pitch as soon as possible.
"Every day, I work to be in the best possible shape. I take my profession, my body and my responsibility to the team extremely seriously. But sometimes there are things you cannot control, and this injury is one of them.
"Playing for Barça and [Netherlands] something I feel incredibly proud of, and my commitment to both will never change. I will continue to give everything for this badge, for my teammates and for our fans. There are still many moments to create and goals we want to achieve together. Thank you for all your support. I can't wait to be back. Visca Barça Sempre."
Barcelona's Transfer Strategy Remains Unchanged
Even if the worst-case scenario unfolds and De Jong faces an extended absence, Barcelona are not currently looking to bring in a new central midfielder to cover his role, according to Marca.
The club boasts a strong array of midfield talent capable of absorbing De Jong's absence. Pedri, Gavi, Marc Bernal, Fermín López, Dani Olmo, and even Eric García all contributed regular minutes in Flick's midfield setup last season.
Marc Casadó has been widely linked with a departure, but should he remain at the club, he represents yet another option available to Flick. Additionally, promising La Masia graduates Tommy Marques and Brian Fariñas are both expected to earn increased first-team exposure during the 2026–27 season.
Barcelona's primary focus for the remainder of the transfer window is securing a top-class center forward to succeed Robert Lewandowski. The club is also targeting a new center back, with Aymeric Laporte emerging as a prime candidate to recreate Spain's World Cup-winning defensive partnership alongside Pau Cubarsí.