Flick acts without De Jong: Barça faces start to season with key void
Barça are already preparing for the season without Frenkie de Jong. Head coach Hansi Flick has ruled him out for the pre-season in England, the Udine triangular, and the Joan Gamper Trophy, according to Javi Miguel of AS. The team, top of La Liga with 94 points and eight clear of Real Madrid, faces a tough start after the midfielder’s absence.
What happened to De Jong?
The Dutch midfielder suffered a serious knee injury during the 2026 World Cup and his return to Camp Nou remains undated. Though Barça has not confirmed the full extent of the injury, signs point to a serious issue. De Jong was due back on July 20 but has yet to report, and doctors couldn’t perform an MRI on July 13 due to swelling. A second assessment on July 17 delivered a less encouraging diagnosis, per the report.
Club frustration boils over
Inside the club, frustration is growing over how De Jong’s injury was handled. Barça blames the Netherlands’ medical staff for allowing him to play with discomfort against Morocco. The board believes greater caution was needed, and now the team is paying the price. If the absence exceeds four months, Barça could receive up to two million euros in compensation via FIFA’s Club Protection Programme.
Flick’s midfield options
Without De Jong, Flick is turning to youngsters like Marc Bernal, who has already impressed the coach. Academy player Xavi Espart, a right-back converted to defensive midfield, is also in the conversation after strong showings at the UEFA Under-19 Euros. Barça, who closed last season with 95 goals scored and 36 conceded (+59 goal difference), now face a start to the campaign with two straight losses - the latest a 3-1 defeat to Valencia on May 23 - and a July 31 trip to Birmingham.
