With the FIFA World Cup still going on, FC Barcelona were not exactly expecting some bad news to strike them out of nowhere. Unfortunately, however, a certain key player now seems to be dealing with a problematic injury concern ahead of the upcoming season.
According to MARCA, 29-year-old Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong could be sidelined for several months following his initial medical examination ahead of the new campaign. With several players reporting to club duty now following the conclusion of their respective international duties, these medical tests allow the club to assess their current situations.
Frenkie de Jong’s situation, rather unfortunately, seems to be a rather daunting one. Reportedly, the player has suffered a serious knee injury and while it is true that a definitive final diagnosis has not arrived yet, the early signs point to a lengthy period on the sidelines that could potentially even be as long as four months.
In that dire scenario, the Barcelona captain would remain on the sidelines until November of this year. That would mean that the player would miss a significant portion of the club’s opening
months of the new season and that will undoubtedly be a major blow to Hansi Flick’s plans.
Either way, an official report from the club should not take long to arrive with follow-up medical examinations planned soon. Until then, however, the coaching staff will need to evaluate their options and come up with alternative options. Fortunately, the likes of Marc Bernal and Pedri should be able to hold their ground until De Jong can recover.
As for Barça’s ongoing transfer plans, it would be unlikely for this new injury update to derail or shift them. For now, the club remains focused on acquiring Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, who reportedly even ruled out the possibility of a move to the Premier League in favour of joining Barça and achieving his dream.
