Barcelona furious with Ronald Koeman and Netherlands over Frenkie de Jong injury

Barcelona are in a state of shock following the return of Frenkie de Jong from international duty with the Netherlands. Although the midfielder was granted leave, he returned to the Ciutat Esportiva early due to severe swelling in his right knee. A medical assessment conducted under new head coach Hansi Flick revealed a completely unstable joint.

According to the Spanish newspaper AS, the situation is so severe that doctors suspect ligament damage. Internal bleeding currently prevents an MRI scan, forcing the club to wait for inflammation to subside before determining the full extent of the trauma. If the worst-case scenario is confirmed, the player may require surgery, which would sideline him for four to six months.

The Catalan giants feel they were deliberately misled by the Oranje hierarchy. While the club was aware that De Jong had received injections to play in recent fixtures against Tunisia and Morocco, they claim they were not informed of the true scale of the issue. There is a growing suspicion that De Jong played through a significant injury against Morocco—a match that went to extra time and penalties—which may have exponentially worsened the damage.

“We are going to see how Koeman and Frenkie explain this massive problem,” sources from within Barcelona have stated.

The relationship between Barcelona and Ronald Koeman has reignited old tensions. The club is questioning the "unacceptable risks" taken by the Dutch staff, prioritizing short-term results over the player's long-term health. De Jong himself is also facing scrutiny for failing to signal his physical limitations, a decision that has left the club's medical team deeply frustrated.