Barcelona confirm huge Frenkie de Jong knee injury blow | OneFootball

Barcelona have confirmed that midfielder Frenkie de Jong has suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for several weeks.

The Spanish club announced that the Netherlands international has torn the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. 

While Barcelona did not provide a specific timeline for his return, the injury will not require surgery. He will begin a rehabilitation program and hopes to return as soon as possible.

The injury was discovered after several medical examinations carried out over the past few days. 

De Jong dealt with discomfort while on international duty at the World Cup, where he was spotted wearing a protective bandage on his right knee. 

He was given extra time off after the tournament and visited Barcelona’s training facilities earlier this week to undergo further checks.

The news is a major disappointment for Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who had hoped to start the campaign with one of his most experienced midfielders available. 

De Jong was a crucial player for Barcelona last season, making 38 appearances across all competitions.

He scored just once but weighed in with eight assists. He also averaged two interceptions, 2.3 tackles, 2.3 clearances, and five ball recoveries per game

Despite losing such an important player, Barcelona are not expected to make any changes to their transfer plans. They believe they have the midfield depth to cope with De Jong’s absence. 

Barcelona are also moving ahead with their transfer plans, with the club working on a potential exit for Marc Casado rather than searching for a replacement for De Jong.

De Jong’s latest injury continues a frustrating run of fitness problems.

He has struggled with several setbacks, including a serious ankle issue and a thigh injury that sidelined him for nearly two months last season.