Training Pain Delays Frenkie de Jong's Return at Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong will not return to La Liga action anytime soon. The Dutch midfielder at FC Barcelona, who suffered a rupture of the medial collateral ligament of his right knee during the 2026 World Cup with the Netherlands, attempted his first solo running session on Wednesday at Barcelona’s training centre — and had to stop after a few minutes due to persistent pain.

The 29-year-old has been sidelined for over a month. He missed Barcelona’s entire summer preparation and the Liga opening match against Elche (0-5) last Sunday. The club opted for conservative treatment without rushing, but this new complication now makes any projection on a return date impossible.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, the situation is beginning to cause frustration internally. De Jong’s injury stems directly from the physical management he adopted to arrive in shape for the World Cup, a decision that was not appreciated within the club. Barcelona’s coaching staff had indeed agreed to manage his workload at the end of last season with this goal in mind.

Despite these tensions, both parties remain aligned on the absolute priority: avoiding any setback. “The evolution of the injury will determine when he can increase his workload and, consequently, rejoin the group,” the Spanish media states. The coming days will therefore be marked by caution, with no return date announced.