Barcelona have officially confirmed that midfielder Frenkie de Jong has sustained a tear to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee. The injury, which caused the Dutch international discomfort during the World Cup before deteriorating, was fully assessed at the club's Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training complex last Friday. The midfielder returned to the facility on Wednesday to finalize the medical report ahead of its public release.
In an official statement, the club announced that De Jong will undergo conservative treatment in the coming weeks while medical staff monitor his progress. While Barcelona has not scheduled surgery at this time, the club indicated that future intervention remains a possibility depending on how the player responds to his rehabilitation. No specific return date has been provided by the organization, with the player remaining under constant medical supervision.
Although the club refrained from setting a firm timetable, reports from journalist Javi Miguel of AS suggest the injury could sideline the midfielder for five to six months. Such a timeline would see him potentially miss the entire first half of the 2026/27 season, representing a significant blow to the team's plans.
The absence of such a key player leaves head coach Hansi Flick with a notable void to fill in the midfield as the squad prepares for the upcoming season. During the recovery period, the German manager is expected to utilize preseason friendlies to evaluate his remaining options and determine which younger talents might be prepared to step up alongside the senior players. The club will continue to evaluate De Jong’s condition closely before deciding if surgical intervention will eventually be required.
In other football news, the Premier League has issued a statement explaining why Tottenham and James Maddison were not awarded a penalty against Leeds. The Spurs midfielder was denied a big moment on his return from injury as the Premier League explained the decision during the draw.
Barcelona star expected to miss 5-6 months through injury
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