FC Barcelona faces a potential crisis as their star midfielder suffers an injury scare during International duty.
The incident occurred during a tightly contested 1-1 draw between the Netherlands and Poland in Rotterdam, a match that held significant interest for the Catalan club due to the involvement of two of their stars.
With the player now facing uncertainty ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifier, manager Hansi Flick and Barcelona’s medical staff are on high alert, hoping the issue does not escalate into a long-term setback for their squad.
The player in question is Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona’s 28-year-old captain and midfield linchpin.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman revealed that De Jong was withdrawn in the 82nd minute against Poland as a precautionary measure after experiencing tightness in his glutes.
“Frenkie warned us that he felt tightness in his glutes, so we didn’t take any risks,” Koeman stated.
Despite the early exit, De Jong delivered a strong performance, completing 45 of 47 passes with a 96% accuracy rate and touching the ball 49 times.
His substitution, replaced by Quinten Timber, has raised concerns about his availability for the Netherlands’ next fixture against Lithuania and, more critically, for Barcelona’s upcoming matches.
The timing of De Jong’s discomfort is a blow for Barcelona, already navigating injury concerns with other players, including a minor scare for winger Lamine Yamal during Spain’s win over Bulgaria.
With De Jong’s history of resilience in midfield and his pivotal role in Flick’s system, his potential absence could disrupt the team’s rhythm.
As the Netherlands prepares for its next qualifier, Koeman faces a decision on whether to rest De Jong, while Barcelona anxiously awaits updates on its captain’s condition.
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