Hansi Flick has shown clear frustration with the Barcelona captain, potentially impacting the player’s standing at Camp Nou.
FC Barcelona’s serene start to the domestic campaign is threatening to be disrupted by growing friction inside the club’s sporting hierarchy at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.
While Hansi Flick has seamlessly guided his team through an impressive opening stretch in La Liga, administrative and medical challenges behind closed doors continue to test the manager’s authority.
According to Fichajes, the central figure at the heart of this internal strain is 29-year-old Dutch international midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
The source of Flick’s annoyance stems from how the player handled a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury sustained during national team duty, where he reportedly played through physical discomfort before returning to Catalonia with a severe tear requiring an extended four-month absence.
Tensions flared further when De Jong opted for a conservative rehabilitation path against the immediate recommendations of Barcelona’s medical department, which favored surgical intervention.
This disagreement over medical protocols comes on the heels of previous friction late last season, when De Jong opted out of high-stakes fixtures due to discomfort despite receiving medical clearance.
For Hansi Flick, a manager renowned for demanding absolute discipline and physical commitment, the midfielder’s decisions have eroded trust at a crucial juncture.
The developing rift could significantly alter Barcelona’s long-term tactical and transfer plans.
With young talent Marc Bernal thriving alongside summer addition Rodri in the double pivot, Hansi Flick has already established an effective central unit that functions cohesively without the Dutch star.
Should the relationship between manager and player fail to repair once De Jong completes his rehabilitation in October, Deco and the board may actively pursue a high-profile transfer exit in upcoming windows to relieve financial pressure and streamline Flick’s midfield hierarchy.
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