Barcelona’s midfield dynamo, Frenkie de Jong, is set for an extended spell on the sidelines, with his return to action not expected until after the forthcoming international break, as confirmed by manager Xavi Hernandez.
The 26-year-old Dutch midfielder had been a fixture in Barcelona’s LaLiga campaign, featuring in every minute of their matches this season, until a cruel twist of fate saw him sustain an ankle injury during the match against Celta Vigo last weekend. This unexpected setback leaves a significant void in Barcelona’s midfield lineup.
Addressing the media on Monday, Xavi expressed the magnitude of de Jong’s absence, stating, “He’ll be a significant absence for us. Frenkie is fundamental to how we play, especially given the great form he was in.”
The timeline for de Jong’s recovery remains uncertain, with Xavi remarking, “About the timeframe of his injury, it’s going to depend on him really, but we will have to assess how he’s feeling after the next international break, slated for October.”
Barcelona faces a challenging run of fixtures in the coming weeks, starting with a visit to Real Mallorca on Tuesday, followed by a home clash against Sevilla and a pivotal Champions League group stage encounter against Porto on October 4th. They will then face Granada in LaLiga on October 8th before the international break.
With the absence of de Jong and the injury to midfielder Pedri, Xavi acknowledged the need to rotate the squad to mitigate the risk of further injuries, stating, “We will rotate not just for the Champions League, but also for the next LaLiga game. There will be an average of two or three players rotating every game; that’s how we understand we have to prevent injuries.”
Barcelona faces a challenging period ahead as they cope with the absence of key midfielders, hoping to maintain their competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions.
