After De Jong's decision: Barcelona fear a repeat of the nightmare scenario

Frenkie de Jong has decided to pursue conservative treatment for his medial collateral ligament tear in his right knee, opting against surgical intervention. This choice has been met with extreme caution at Barcelona, as it bears an uncomfortable resemblance to the case of Ansu Fati.

In January 2022, Fati rejected the club's medical recommendation for surgery on his left thigh, choosing his own team for conservative rehabilitation instead. Although he returned to action, the forward never regained the explosive pace that had initially made him one of the most promising talents from La Masia. Now with Monaco, Fati's career path serves as a cautionary tale for the club.

While internal staff acknowledge that the injuries are not medically identical and that sports medicine has advanced significantly, the club remains on high alert. The frustration is compounded by the belief that the injury was worsened by the Dutch federation and Ronald Koeman, who allowed De Jong to play through pain during the World Cup—an assessment later confirmed by the player himself.

Barcelona is now hoping that De Jong’s chosen recovery path will prove successful and spare him the operating theatre. The club is handling the process with maximum scrutiny, desperate to ensure they do not relive the same frustrating outcome they experienced with Fati.