De Jong focused on recovery after knee ligament injury

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has provided an update on the knee ligament injury that has ruled him out of action and is expected to keep him sidelined at the start of the season.

De Jong said he and Barcelona are aligned on his rehabilitation, with the midfielder working closely with physical therapists as he attempts to return in the best possible condition.

“I’m doing work with the physical therapists. We’ve made a plan which everyone knows about and everyone agrees with,” De Jong told Barcelona’s media.

He added that his recovery is currently his main priority, including maintaining his diet, rest and overall physical condition.

“I just want to focus on my recovery. I’m doing everything I can to be in good physical condition: I’m taking care of my diet, my rest and everything else that is in my hands,” he said.

Why De Jong continued playing at the World Cup

De Jong said the injury began when another player fell on him, leaving him with discomfort in his knee during the World Cup. Initial tests identified a small problem, but he was told that continuing to play would not make the injury worse.

With the World Cup representing a major ambition, De Jong decided to remain involved despite the pain.

“They said I could continue playing, that I’d be uncomfortable and would have some pain, but that I could keep playing,” he explained. “They assured me that it couldn’t get worse. So I kept playing because I love playing football. The World Cup is a dream.”

However, further examinations after his return showed that the injury had progressed. A scan revealed a more serious issue than the tests conducted in the United States had indicated, a development De Jong said came as a shock.

“It showed that the injury was now more serious than when we did the tests in the US. That was really hard because I wasn’t expecting it, and nobody was expecting it,” he said.

Return date remains unclear

Barcelona have not provided a definitive timetable for De Jong’s return. The midfielder is certain to miss the start of the season, while speculation over whether he could require surgery remains unresolved. De Jong’s comments indicate that the immediate plan is a jointly agreed rehabilitation programme rather than a confirmed operation.