Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is facing several months on the sidelines due to a knee ligament injury. Tests confirmed a tear of the MCL in his right knee, ruling him out of the start of the new season. While surgery has been discarded for now, a source indicated he will miss the La Liga opener on August 23rd and potentially months of football.

De Jong addressed claims he prioritized country over club, stating his knee injury occurred during the World Cup. Initial assessments deemed it minor, but further examinations in Barcelona revealed its severity. He emphasized his commitment to both Barcelona and the Netherlands, and is now focused on recovery.

Last season, De Jong dealt with muscle injuries, missing 11 matches due to a hamstring issue. He played significant minutes in the World Cup, including 110 minutes in the Netherlands' defeat to Morocco. Barcelona has several midfield options, including Pedri and Gavi, to cover De Jong's absence as they also focus on strengthening their attack with signings like Karim Adeyemi and potentially Jesse Bisiwu.