Within the context of the current injury crisis at FC Barcelona, returning players are essentially new signings for the club right now. That is why, with every returning player, the overall squad gets a little bit better. Over time, Barcelona expects that this will continue giving Hansi Flick some extra firepower.
Thankfully, the German coach has managed just fine even without many of his key players. The former Bayern Munich coach, thanks to the versatility of his players and his own tactical strokes of genius, has been able to get the best out of the players that he does have at his disposal.
However, that does not mean that returning players would not be welcome. In fact, given the current status of the footballing calendar, injuries are to be expected, and the more players that Hansi Flick has at his disposal the better it is for the overall quality of the squad and the displays that can be put out on the field.
Now, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, one particular player could end up returning as soon as the upcoming UEFA Champions League game against Young Boys at the Montjuic Stadium right at the start of October.
That player would be none other than 27-year-old Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, and the club will have a big decision to make regarding his return to the official squad.
Having been out of action since April of 2024, the Dutchman is now back in partial training with the rest of his teammates. However, there is still no consensus over when he could end up making his return to the team, but Hansi Flick did mention that De Jong is now close to returning.
As it stands, the final decision will come on Monday, as per MD, and it will consequently determine if the €70 million-rated midfielder makes his return against Young Boys or a few days later against Alaves in La Liga.
In either case, it is a big boost to a squad that has been heavily relying on the qualities of young players. Fortunately, De Jong will provide both experience and guaranteed quality on the field. The only concern that remains is the status of his injury and if there are any chances of a relapse, something that both the player and the club will hope to avoid.
