Barcelona still plan to move on 22-year-old midfielder despite serious knee injury to captain – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona remain open to parting ways with Marc Casado this summer despite the serious knee injury suffered by Frenkie de Jong, which could leave Hansi Flick without one of his most important midfielders for several months.

According to SPORT, De Jong is expected to be sidelined for around three to four months, although serious ligament damage has been ruled out. The Dutchman will undergo further assessment before a final decision is made on his treatment.

Despite De Jong’s expected absence, the report claims Barcelona’s plan regarding Casado has not changed, with the club still considering a permanent departure for the 22-year-old midfielder.

Casado, who turned 22 in September 2025, is therefore still viewed as a potential sale as Barcelona continue shaping Flick’s squad for the new campaign.

The decision is particularly interesting given the situation in midfield. De Jong is unlikely to be available for the opening months of the season, while selling Casado would remove another natural defensive midfield option from the squad.

However, Barcelona appear confident that Flick already has enough alternatives. Pedri, Gavi, Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez are all part of the senior midfield picture, while La Masia players Tommy Marques and Xavi Espart could provide additional depth.

Barca backing their existing options

Flick can also turn to Eric Garcia or Andreas Christensen if he requires a more defensive presence in midfield, giving Barcelona further reason to believe they can avoid entering the transfer market for a replacement for De Jong.

Still, moving Casado on would be a significant call. The midfielder has already shown that he can contribute at first-team level, and losing both him and De Jong from the immediate picture would considerably reduce Flick’s options.

From Barcelona’s perspective, any Casado sale would therefore need to make financial and sporting sense. The club clearly trust Bernal and their other midfield options, but injuries can quickly change the picture over a long season.

For now, though, De Jong’s setback does not appear to have altered Barcelona’s transfer plans. Casado remains a player the club could move on, even with their captain potentially unavailable until well into the campaign.