Sofia Quijada
FC Barcelona have officially confirmed that Frenkie de Jong has picked up a slight groin injury while on international duty with the Netherlands. The problem occurred during last Thursday’s 1-1 World Cup qualifier draw against Poland, where the midfielder was substituted off in the 83rd minute.
Following the knock, De Jong was withdrawn from the squad for the Netherlands’ clash with Lithuania. At the time, the Dutch camp kept the details quiet, but Barça have now clarified that the 27-year-old is carrying a groin issue. The club did not reveal a recovery timeline, though early signs suggest a short spell on the sidelines.
Koeman: “We didn’t want to take any risks”
Speaking ahead of the Lithuania match, Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman explained the reasoning behind leaving De Jong out:
Frenkie de Jong. Source: barcablaugranes.com
“Frenkie told us that he felt a sprain in the buttock area, so we decided not to take any risks. He has not yet recovered enough to be available to play. We don’t think it is something serious, but letting him play would have been too risky.”
Barcelona’s Upcoming Fixtures at Stake
The timing of this setback is far from ideal for Barcelona. They return from the international break with a tough LaLiga clash against Valencia on Sunday, before immediately turning their attention to Europe. Just three days later, Xavi’s side travel to England to face Newcastle United in their Champions League opener on September 18th.
With De Jong playing such a crucial role in Barça’s midfield structure, fans and bettors alike will be keeping a close eye on his recovery. If the Dutchman is unavailable, it could force Xavi into tactical reshuffles and open up opportunities for squad players to step in.
For now, Barcelona supporters will be hoping that the issue is as minor as both Koeman and the club suggest — and that De Jong can return swiftly for two fixtures that could define the early part of their season.