Barcelona has confirmed the long-awaited return date for midfield star Frenkie De Jong following his knee injury setback.
The Dutch international has been sidelined with a hamstring injury picked up in late February, forcing him out of several key fixtures and prompting coach Hansi Flick to recalibrate his central options.
His comeback is especially important as Barcelona enter a demanding stretch that includes a La Liga clash with Atletico Madrid followed by a Champions League quarterfinal against the same side, both of which will test the squad’s depth and resilience.
Frenkie De Jong is now scheduled to return to normal training on Monday, marking the final step in his rehab before being considered for match selection, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Reports indicate that he will rejoin the full‑team sessions at the Ciutat Esportiva, having already progressed through a gradual ramp‑up that has kept him out of the starting XI for the upcoming league trip to Madrid.
Flick has publicly stated that “we will need to wait a bit longer” for the 28‑year‑old, effectively ruling him out of Saturday’s La Liga meeting but leaving the door open for a comeback in the following week.
If everything continues to progress as planned, Frenkie De Jong could feature in Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Atletico Madrid, giving the Blaugrana a fresh, high‑level presence in the middle of the park for the biggest fixture in the mini‑trilogy.
In the meantime, Marc Bernal has continued to partner Pedri in central midfield, putting in composed displays that have helped maintain Barcelona’s control in the absence of their captain.
Frenkie de Jong’s return to normal training not only improves Barcelona’s options but also sends a strong signal that their midfield anchor is inching closer to reclaiming his central role just as the season reaches its most decisive phase.
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