Frenkie de Jong says he’s fit and ready to take on Spain in the Nations League this week after missing Barcelona’s win over Atletico at the weekend.
The [midfielder was set to start against Diego Simeone’s side](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2025/3/16/24387226/hansi-flick-offers-frenkie-de-jong-update-after-midfielder-misses-barcelona-vs-atletico-madrid) but missed out through illness. He told a press conference on Wednesday that he’s feeling a lot better.
> “After lunch I suddenly had to throw up a lot and I also had stomach pains. I think I ate something wrong. That seems likely to me, since I was fine again the next day,” he said.
De Jong also insisted his ankle issues are a thing of the past as he prepares to face several Barcelona team-mates, including Lamine Yamal on Thursday night in Rotterdam.
> “I feel completely fine and don’t think about it anymore while playing,” he added.
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> “It took a long time and because you didn’t know how long it would last, a kind of doubt arose. I sometimes found that quite difficult to deal with. But now it’s going fine.
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> “It’s always nice to play again. I just never really worried about it. It was about the ankle healing and then it was up to me to show myself. I think I’m in a good phase now and the team is doing well.
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> “\[Yamal\] is very good. I see him as a natural talent and as a player of the highest category. It is important that we fight him as a team.
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> “For many people, Spain is the favorite, but I don’t think like that. Of course they are very good, but we are ready to make it a great match.”
Spain are indeed favorites to make it through to the semi-finals. The winners of the tie go on to play France or Croatia for a place in the final.