Barcelona hope conservative route speeds Frenkie de Jong's comeback
Barcelona confirmed that Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong has rejoined group training after a 75‑day spell on the sidelines with a ruptured medial collateral ligament in his right knee, opting for conservative treatment rather than surgery, and the club says this gives cause for optimism.
Conservative treatment chosen
SPORT the Dutchman has elected a conservative approach rather than surgery for his MCL rupture. The club points to earlier recoveries of Lionel Messi and Gabriel Jesus as evidence that non‑operative treatment can be successful. Both players returned to competitive action within roughly eight weeks after similar injuries.
De Jong rejoined his Barcelona teammates in a full group‑training session today, describing his return as positive and indicating he feels good about his progress. He is now targeting a comeback to competitive matches at the end of October. The club will monitor his rehabilitation closely.
Precedents from Messi and Jesus
Lionel Messi suffered a left‑knee MCL rupture in September 2015, with an initial prognosis of seven to eight weeks out. He was back in the squad by November, 56 days after the injury, having already trained with the group for more than a week before the match. Gabriel Jesus injured his MCL in December 2017 while at Manchester City, resumed partial training in early February and required about eight weeks before returning to competitive play.
Pep Guardiola had originally projected a one‑ to two‑month absence for De Jong. The two precedent cases suggest that a return within eight weeks is possible when the injury is not severe. Nevertheless, recovery depends on the individual’s response to rehabilitation and the demands of top‑level competition.
Barcelona view De Jong’s progress as the key development in their midfield rebuilding. If he continues without setbacks, the club could soon have an important option back in contention. The staff remain cautious, aiming to avoid any rush that could cause further complications.
The next steps will involve tailored training sessions and medical assessments to confirm his readiness. Should his condition hold steady, Barcelona hope to feature him in the squad for the final league fixtures in October.