Barcelona are actively searching for a new central midfielder following confirmation that Frenkie de Jong will miss at least four months with a medial collateral ligament tear in his right knee. Transfer expert Matteo Moretto reported the club has gone to the market in recent days to identify options after the injury, sustained during the World Cup, proved more serious than Netherlands medical staff initially indicated.
De Jong broke his silence on the matter via Instagram, explaining that he played through discomfort during the tournament after doctors assessed the problem as minor and cleared him to continue. Further tests on his return to Barcelona revealed the full extent of the damage. The club confirmed the diagnosis in their own statement, noting de Jong would continue under medical treatment while his progress was monitored over coming weeks. Surgery is not currently required.
Flick Relationship Already Under Strain
The injury compounds a situation that was already complicated. According to Football Espana via Yahoo Sports, de Jong’s working relationship with head coach Hansi Flick had grown difficult before the ligament damage was even confirmed, with tensions emerging from several incidents over recent months. That means Barcelona may not simply be covering for an absent player — the club could be planning a longer-term midfield restructure.
No Clear In-House Solution
Marc Casadó was one potential internal option to absorb extra minutes. That door appears closed. Reports indicate Barcelona have set a sale price for Casadó and instructed the club to listen to offers for him, which rules him out as a stop-gap. Options in the middle of the park are genuinely thin.
Rodri the Dream, Others on the Radar
Rodri, the Spain and Manchester City midfielder, tops many fans’ wish lists — particularly given speculation about a possible move away from City. Realistically, that remains a difficult deal to complete. Barcelona have other names under consideration, though Moretto’s report does not specify them. The club’s window to act on at least one of those targets may be short, with a separate report noting a deadline of Saturday to pursue a deal for a Valencia player.
The coming days will clarify whether Barcelona can secure reinforcements before the new LaLiga season begins. De Jong, for his part, expressed full commitment to the club and insisted he cannot wait to return to the pitch.
