A shocking decision from De Jong puts Barcelona in a bind
INA – SOURCES
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Frenkie de Jong stands at a crossroads that could carry unexpected consequences. The Barcelona star has made a series of controversial decisions since injury ended his Netherlands World Cup on 30 June.
According to the Spanish newspaper "AS", the first and most influential decision saw De Jong play the last three matches at the World Cup despite pain in his right knee. That pain worsened alarmingly, to the point where he appeared visibly affected during the clash with Morocco. De Jong justified his stance by insisting the doctors had misdiagnosed his condition, having underestimated the severity of the pain in the knee.
Tests in Barcelona confirmed the severity of the injury, revealing a tear in the medial collateral ligament of the right knee. The player faced two options, each with its pros and cons. Surgery would have meant an absence of between five and six months, with a guarantee of restoring the right knee close to 100%. Conservative treatment could have allowed him back after roughly three months if successful but carried the risk of no complete guarantees over the stability of the knee.
Against the opinion of the club's medical staff, the player chose conservative treatment, accepting the risk of not recovering 100%. After a month and a half of rehabilitation, De Jong took to the pitch on 25 August to test the stability of his knee and how comfortable he felt. The results were not positive. He was forced to leave the pitch in clear distress.
This first setback prompted the club to pile pressure back on the player, advising him to open a new chapter in dealing with the injury. Surgeon Juan Carlos Muñoz even met the Dutchman to recommend surgery as the best solution. Frenkie held firm, preferring to exhaust every option that conservative treatment offered.
Sharp contradiction now marks the feelings among those involved. Barcelona insist surgery is the only viable path to avoid repeating the cases of Samuel Umtiti and Ansu Fati. Their Dutch midfielder remains hesitant to accept it; aware he would be sidelined for three quarters of the season.
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