Frenkie de Jong's injury is the biggest problem for Barcelona in the 2026-2027 season. The Dutch midfielder was injured during the World Cup and has been sidelined ever since, leaving a notable void in Hansi Flick's midfield. Now, however, it appears that his situation is causing genuine tension behind the scenes at the club. According to Diario SPORT, Barcelona is growing increasingly frustrated with De Jong, who continues to reject the possibility of undergoing surgery despite his lack of progress. More than six weeks have passed since the Dutchman finished his World Cup campaign on June 30, and the conservative treatment he opted for has not delivered the expected results. The club feels that a point has been reached where surgery is the logical next step, but the player remains reluctant. De Jong believes that the four-week conservative recovery period should only be counted from the moment he returned to training. Barcelona, however, argues that he was already doing practically the same rehabilitation work beforehand, meaning the margin granted has already been far greater than intended. Barcelona's unhappiness also stems from further back, with the club feeling that De Jong's physical management in the second half of last season was heavily influenced by his desire to be fit for the World Cup. The midfielder played his last full game for Barcelona in February before being carefully managed in the run-in. Yet with the Netherlands, he started every single World Cup match until their elimination, something the club views with a degree of scepticism. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for De Jong. ## What's next? For Barcelona, the priority now is clarity. The club wants De Jong to undergo surgery so he can begin a recovery with more defined timelines, allowing Flick to plan accordingly. A long-term absence could also open up registration flexibility, with Barcelona potentially able to use part of that space for another player, while also receiving FIFA compensation for an injury sustained on international duty. Notably, De Jong's importance may diminish slightly if Rodri ends up joining the Catalans, though the club are yet to reach an agreement with Manchester City. ## The situation with De Jong De Jong's injury is a major problem for Barcelona, and his lack of progress in recovery has caused tension behind the scenes at the club. The club feels that De Jong has been reluctant to undergo surgery, despite his lack of progress in recovery. De Jong believes that the four-week conservative recovery period should only be counted from the moment he returned to training. Barcelona, however, argues that he was already doing practically the same rehabilitation work beforehand, meaning the margin granted has already been far greater than intended. ## Barcelona's response Barcelona's response to the situation with De Jong has been growing increasingly frustrated. The club feels that De Jong has been reluctant to undergo surgery, despite his lack of progress in recovery. The club wants De Jong to undergo surgery so he can begin a recovery with more defined timelines, allowing Flick to plan accordingly. ## The current situation The current situation is that De Jong continues to be reluctant to undergo surgery, despite the growing frustration of Barcelona. The club feels that a point has been reached where surgery is the logical next step, but the player remains reluctant. De Jong's injury is a major problem for Barcelona, and his lack of progress in recovery has caused tension behind the scenes at the club.