De Jong disputes injury report as club and country differ

Vandaag, Frenkie de Jong used his Instagram page (Instagram-pagina) to refute the club’s earlier update, confirming that the 29‑year‑old Dutch midfielder suffers a tear of the inner knee ligament in his right knee, a condition his own national team doctors had previously downplayed.

FC Barcelona released an update stating that De Jong was dealing with a knee problem, prompting widespread speculation about his fitness.

Medical examinations revealed a tear in the inner knee ligament of his right knee, confirming the seriousness of the injury.

The medical staff of the Nederlands elftal assessed the injury as less severe than the doctors at FC Barcelona, creating a clear divergence in opinion.

De Jong posted on Instagram that he normally ignores media commentary, but recent speculation forced him to address the situation publicly.

He explained that during the World Cup he sustained a knee injury that was initially described by doctors as a small issue that would not worsen if he kept playing, and that he had managed the pain throughout his career.

After returning to Barcelona for further tests during his vacation, the club’s doctors concluded the injury was more serious than first thought, though surgery was not required at this stage.

De Jong said he cannot wait to return to the field, emphasizing his commitment to both FC Barcelona and the Dutch national team, and recalled playing all four matches at the World Cup 2026 before a training collision with Quinten Timber that left him with a bandage on the same knee.

The contrasting medical assessments highlight a split between club and country evaluations, while De Jong’s own words underline his determination to recover quickly and prove his dedication to both sides.