Frenkie de Jong moves to attack

BarcelonaJune 30, 2026. This is the date of Frenkie de Jong's last participation in a top-level football match. It was the day the Netherlands national team, now inherited by Xavi Hernández in a very discreet operation, was eliminated from the World Cup against Morocco in a penalty shootout. In that match, the Barça midfielder was photographed with his right knee very swollen. He played infiltrated to avoid pain, but the injury was visibly evident. So much so that upon returning to training with the Barça club, he was diagnosed with a complete tear of the medial collateral ligament.

The remedy proposed by the head of the medical services of the first team, Ricard Pruna, was for De Jong to undergo surgery to reconstruct his ligament before starting treatment, but the footballer avoided the intervention because he believed that with a conservative approach the joint could regenerate anyway. Three long weeks after that clash of intentions, the plan continues to fail. Although De Jong was present at the preseason stay in England, he has not trained at any particular pace any day and is far from being able to return to the plans of his coach, Hansi Flick. However, he states that his recovery is going well. "I'm doing everything I can to be physically well. I eat very well and get my hours of sleep. [...] The press has published lies that have damaged my image," he assures in statements to the official Barça media.

However, this whole latest episode is marking a before and after in De Jong's role in the eyes of the German coach and also of the sporting management, who in October 2025 renewed their confidence in him until 2029. In fact, Barça's offensive to sign Rodrigo Hernández, a defensive midfielder who would arrive to be undisputed, also stems from the doubts that the Dutchman's performance generates internally, who, to make matters worse, with the departures of Marc-André ter Stegen and Ronald Araujo will be promoted to first captain of the squad ahead of Raphinha, Pedri, and most likely Eric Garcia and Gavi. He will be the one to give the pre-match speech before the Joan Gamper Trophy match next Wednesday against Egyptian Al-Ahly.

De Jong's uncertainty also conditions the administrative aspect of his absence. If he were to accept surgery, he would be out of action for more than four months, which is what La Liga regulations establish as the minimum to be able to use 80% of the injured player's salary space to register another. In the case of the Dutchman, a gap of approximately 15 million euros gross would be freed up, a not negligible amount that would be perfect for addressing pending needs in compliance with La Liga's financial fair play. Last season, with Barça exceeding the limit and forced to register Joan Garcia, Marc-André ter Stegen's captaincy was even withdrawn because he accepted that he would be out for a minimum of four months due to a lumbar spine injury. Only then could his replacement be registered. This summer, however, from Camp Nou they claim to be at the 1:1 rule and, therefore, there is less urgency.

A special player when injured

Be that as it may, the Blaugrana entity still trusts that De Jong will reconsider his refusal of surgery. At the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, they believe that this solution will not only favor clearer recovery times but also leave the player's knee in much better condition in the long run. In fact, to reinforce this argument, they evoke the sad memory of Samuel Umtiti, who after playing (and winning) the 2018 World Cup with an injected knee, began a ordeal of injuries and relapses in the same joint. The French center-back rejected surgery, never returned to his former self, and today, at 32 years old, he is already a retired footballer. Barça paid dearly for having renewed him on an upward trajectory before that World Cup.

For his part, De Jong clings to a precedent from two summers ago, when Barça recommended surgery to correct persistent problems in the syndesmosis of his right ankle that kept him out for more than 20 games during the 2023-24 season, Xavi Hernández's last on the Culer bench. The Dutchman insisted on conservative treatment and extended his time off the field until well into the following season. But Flick began to field him in October and, as the physical problems did not reappear, he gave him more and more responsibility until he became an undisputed player worthy of a new contract.

Two years later, De Jong, stubborn and resilient, hopes to win the game again. But given that the injury is to his knee (and not his ankle) and that Rodri will be much more competition tomorrow than Casadó the day before yesterday, he does not have the best cards or the best context to declare victory. Of course, he has the upper hand thanks to the 9 million net per year he has secured until 2029.