Frenkie de Jong has returned to Barcelona from the World Cup with a serious right knee injury that could keep him sidelined for up to four months.
According to reports from El Español and COPE, initial examinations carried out by Barcelona’s medical staff on Monday found the knee swollen and unstable, with the club fearing possible ligament damage. A conclusive MRI has not yet been possible because of internal bleeding around the joint, meaning a definitive diagnosis is still days away. The Dutch midfielder had been carrying discomfort since the World Cup group stage, playing through pain-killing injections against Tunisia before featuring for 110 minutes in the last-32 defeat to Morocco.
Ronald Koeman And Netherlands Face Barcelona Anger Over De Jong’s Workload
Barcelona are understood to be frustrated that Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands continued to select de Jong through the closing rounds despite the worsening issue, with the full extent of the damage only becoming clear once the midfielder was assessed back in Catalunya, according to SI.com and beIN Sports.
Should the club’s more pessimistic timeline hold, de Jong would miss the start of Hansi Flick’s third season in charge, including Barcelona’s pre-season preparations and the opening weeks of the 2026-27 La Liga campaign. It would be a fresh setback for a player whose recent injury history has already shaped his role at the club, from his post-Koeman-era reset in midfield to his standing as one of Flick’s most trusted operators.
Barcelona are expected to have a clearer picture once the swelling subsides enough for scans, with the club bracing for confirmation of a lengthy recovery timetable in the coming days.
