FC Barcelona are reportedly growing frustrated with Frenkie de Jong as the midfielder resists surgery and continues to show little progress roughly six weeks after suffering a foot injury.
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FC Barcelona’s patience with Frenkie de Jong is wearing thin, according to SPORT, which cites anonymous sources close to the situation. The Dutch midfielder has reportedly declined to undergo surgery despite a lack of clear improvement since sustaining the injury around six weeks ago.
De Jong returned to Catalonia carrying a foot problem after the Netherlands were knocked out by Morocco in the last 32 of the World Cup.
That defeat took place on June 30, yet De Jong has still not had an operation and, according to the report, has not shown meaningful signs of recovery.
The uncertainty is a significant setback for Hansi Flick as he maps out his squad plans for the new campaign. Under normal circumstances, De Jong’s recovery period is being viewed as roughly three months, though it could stretch to as long as six depending on how the injury develops and how he manages the process.
The situation has also revived concerns inside the club that De Jong may not have been fully committed during the closing stages of last season, with some believing his focus had shifted toward the World Cup.
De Jong has not completed a full match for Barcelona since February 22. The midfielder arrived from Ajax in 2019 in a high-profile transfer after being widely regarded as the Champions League’s standout midfielder that season.
He was then out for nine games, losing his place to the likes of Marc Bernal and Gavi across the last six matches he came back for for.
In the last two of the 2025/2026 campaign, De Jong played no part at all prior to linking up with Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands outfit.
On the eve of another season, Barça wants Frenkie to make a decision. Surgery is the club’s preferred method of treatment, but Frenkie opts for something more conservative that would reportedly keep him out of action for four months.
This could be Frenkie de Jong’s last season at FC Barcelona
That four month timeframe could have its benefits. If Barça manages to land Rodri, it can restructure the wage bill and fall on the right side of Financial Fair Play limits.
In normal circumstances, were he not injured, De Jong might already be placed on the transfer market just like midfielders such as Marc Casado and Tommy Marques, who have their exits described as “imminent”.
Rodri’s expected arrival after agreeing terms provides an “overbooking” in midfield, and the Spain captain is direct competition for De Jong.
In his injured state, there is no way that De Jong is moved on any time soon despite past links with Premier League giants such as Manchester United.
Effectively, though, this could be his last season at FC Barcelona if Rodri becomes the starting pivot charged with acting as a mentor to Marc Bernal.
