Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong breaks silence with heartfelt statement after injury confirmation

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·23 July 2026

Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong breaks silence with heartfelt statement after injury confirmation

Frenkie de Jong has broken his silence after FC Barcelona confirmed he suffered a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, using a heartfelt message to address growing speculation surrounding both his injury and his commitment to the club.

The Barcelona captain published a lengthy statement on social media just hours after the club’s medical update, explaining how the injury developed during the 2026 World Cup and firmly rejecting suggestions that his dedication to Barca should ever be questioned.

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De Jong explains how the injury unfolded

The Dutch midfielder revealed that he initially believed the injury was only a minor issue and continued playing after receiving positive early assessments.

However, further examinations after returning to Barcelona during his summer break revealed that the damage was more serious than first thought. De Jong also confirmed that surgery is not currently required and that his full focus is now on rehabilitation.

His full statement through an Instagram story (h/t Fabrizio Romano) reads:

“Hello Culers, Normally I do not pay much attention to what is written about me, the team or the club. But lately there has been a lot of speculation about my injury and my situation at Barca. It is difficult for me to see people questioning my relationship with and commitment to the club because of false information. Football means everything to me, and I have always given everything I have for FC Barcelona and for my country. That is why I want to share what happened. During the World Cup I suffered a knee injury. After the first assessments, the doctors told me it was a minor injury and that it was not getting worse as I continued playing. The only downside was playing with some pain, but throughout my career I have always done that whenever I could help the team, both with my club and my national team. During my holidays I returned to Barcelona for further tests. Those showed that the injury was more serious than initially determined. Fortunately, at the moment surgery will not be necessary and I am now completely 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 very seriously. But sometimes there are things you cannot control, and this injury is one of them. Playing for Barca and for the Netherlands is something I am incredibly proud of, and my commitment to both will never change. I will continue giving everything for this badge, for my teammates and for our supporters. There are still many moments to experience and many goals we want to achieve together. Thank you all for your support. I cannot wait to return. Visca Barca always. Frenkie.”

A message Barcelona fans will appreciate

More than providing a medical update, De Jong’s statement feels like a direct response to the doubts that have surrounded him in recent weeks.

The midfielder made it clear that he never hid the injury, trusted the initial medical advice and continued playing because he believed he was helping his team. That context matters, especially after speculation about his fitness and long-term future intensified following the World Cup.

For Barcelona, the injury is still a significant blow. However, De Jong’s words should reassure supporters that his commitment to the club remains as strong as ever. His focus is now on one thing only: recovering fully and returning to help Hansi Flick’s side as soon as possible.