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 blaugrana club, he was diagnosed with a complete tear of the medial collateral ligament. In the training camp orange they were given the green light to continue competing.

The remedy proposed by the head of the first team's medical services, 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 nonetheless. Three long weeks after that clash of intentions, the plan continues to not work. Although De Jong was present during the preseason stay in England, he has not trained at any significant pace on any day and is far from being able to return to the plans of his coach, Hansi Flick. However, he claims that his recovery is going well. "I'm doing everything I can to be physically well. I eat very well and sleep my hours. [...] The press has published lies that have damaged my image," he assures in statements to Barça's official media.

All this latest episode, however, 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 very probably Eric Garcia and Gavi. He will be the one to give the pre-match speech for the Joan Gamper Trophy next Wednesday against Egyptian Al-Ahly.

De Jong's indecision also conditions the administrative side 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 Dutchman's case, a gap of about 15 million euros gross would be freed up, a not insignificant amount that would be perfect for attending to 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 agreed to be out for a minimum of four months due to a lumbar 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 hopes 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 that in the long run it will leave the player's knee in better condition. In fact, to reinforce this reasoning, they evoke the sad memory of Samuel Umtiti, who after playing (and winning) the 2018 World Cup with an infiltrated knee, began a ordeal of injuries and relapses in that 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 at a higher salary 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 his right ankle syndesmosis that kept him out for more than 20 games during the 2023-24 season, Xavi Hernández's last on the blaugrana 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 indisputable player worthy of a new contract.

Two years later, De Jong, stubborn and resilient, hopes to win the game again. But between the injury being in his knee (and not his ankle) and Rodri being much more competition tomorrow than Casadó was the day before yesterday, he does not have the best cards or the best context to claim victory. However, he has the upper hand thanks to the 9 million net annual salary he is guaranteed until 2029.