Frenkie de Jong has suffered a sprain in his right ankle, Barcelona announced Monday afternoon. It is unclear how long the 26-year-old midfielder will be sidelined, although Spanish media expect it to be several weeks before he is fit again.
Frenkie de Jong's recent injury occurred during Barcelona's league clash with Athletic Bilbao, casting a shadow over his availability for the team's forthcoming fixtures.
Xavi, Barcelona's coach, voiced his concerns immediately after the game, apprehensive that the Dutch midfielder might be sidelined for the upcoming matches. Similarly, Pedri's situation has raised alarms within the Barcelona camp, as the young star suffered a hamstring injury, adding to the team's woes.
While Barcelona has refrained from specifying the exact duration of absence for both players, reports from Spanish media suggest a recovery timeline of approximately four weeks. This is not the first time De Jong has faced an injury setback this season; he was previously out of action for two months due to an ankle injury, which already had significant implications for both his club and national team commitments. Pedri's condition seems more concerning, with speculations that his return to the pitch might take even longer.
The situation is particularly significant for Ronald Koeman, the Dutch national team coach, who is keenly monitoring the progress of De Jong. The midfielder's absence was felt during the international matches in October and November, when he was recovering from his ankle injury. With friendly games against Scotland and Germany scheduled for later this month, Koeman is likely to be evaluating his options, though it appears De Jong may not recover in time to participate.
In the coming days, more information is expected from coach Xavi, particularly in the context of Barcelona's next league match against Real Mallorca on Friday and the crucial Champions League return leg against Napoli the following week. Both De Jong and Pedri are pivotal to Barcelona's aspirations, and their potential unavailability for these important fixtures could necessitate strategic adjustments from Xavi, as the team navigates through this challenging period without two of its key midfielders.
