Barcelona fury erupts over Frenkie de Jong injury scare
Barcelona are facing another pre-season setback. Frenkie de Jong, the Dutch midfielder and linchpin of Xavi Hernández’s side, suffered a muscle injury during Thursday’s training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The club has not yet disclosed the severity of the hamstring issue, but insiders suggest it could sideline him for two to three weeks.
The blaugrana, who finished LaLiga’s 2025 table on 94 points, were banking on these friendlies to fine-tune their squad ahead of the new campaign. But the loss of de Jong -who logged the most minutes for the team last season- forces Xavi to rethink his starting XI. The 29-year-old Dutchman, signed from Ajax for €75 million in 2019, started every league match last term, delivering 31 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses, while averaging 95 goals scored and 36 conceded (+59 goal difference).
What exactly happened?
The injury occurred during a possession drill in the morning session. De Jong pulled up after accelerating and left the pitch under his own steam. The medical staff immediately began tests to gauge the damage. Meanwhile, the rest of the squad completed technical work without the ball, but the mood in the training complex was far from the usual pre-season buzz.
Xavi Hernández will hold a press conference Friday to update on de Jong’s status and outline the squad’s workload plan. The coach had already warned this week about managing minutes carefully in pre-season, especially for players with heavy mileage like the Dutchman.
Why it matters for Barcelona
De Jong is the engine of Barcelona’s midfield. His ball-winning ability, passing range and link-up play make him irreplaceable in Xavi’s system. Without him, the team loses balance in the center of the park, where Pedri and Gavi -though in good form- don’t always cover the same profile. The injury comes at a pivotal moment: the squad is in the final stretch of pre-season, sharpening shape ahead of the Levante clash on 21 February 2027.
Fans, already fretting over accumulated workload, have vented frustration on social media. Some demand a review of physical-load protocols, while others point out that Barcelona led LaLiga last season by eight points over Real Madrid. Losing de Jong could narrow that cushion if the team fails to find a quick short-term replacement.
What comes next?
The club has 48 hours to review de Jong’s MRI and confirm the diagnosis. If the injury is minor, he could be back for the Levante game, but if it’s more serious, Xavi may turn to Oriol Romeu or even Sergi Roberto, who is still completing his post-meniscus rehab.
For now, Barcelona remain firm favorites to retain the LaLiga title. The side finished the 2025 table with 94 points from 38 games (31 wins, 1 draw, 6 losses), scoring 95 and conceding 36 (+59 goal difference). Their eight-point cushion over second-placed Real Madrid underscores their status as title favorites. Yet de Jong’s absence injects uncertainty into a project that also eyes a return to the Champions League.
