Media reports have revealed that Barcelona player Frenkie de Jong finds himself in a new predicament with the Catalan club, amid the ongoing crisis stemming from his injury.
The Spanish newspaper "AS" reported that de Jong finds himself at a crossroads with unforeseen consequences, as controversy has accompanied every decision he has made since concluding his participation in the World Cup.
The first controversial decision de Jong made previously was playing three matches for the Netherlands during the World Cup despite suffering from pain in his right knee. The discomfort clearly worsened to the point where it became evident during the match against Morocco.
De Jong defended his actions at the time, claiming that the medical staff made an error in diagnosing the problem after downplaying the severity of the knee pain he was experiencing then.
After the Netherlands lost to Morocco in the Round of 32 at the World Cup, de Jong decided to take a few weeks off and returned to Barcelona's training complex on July 13. He was anxious as the pain persisted and noticeable swelling appeared in his knee.
Barcelona's medical staff acknowledged that, according to examinations, de Jong suffers from a tear in the medial collateral ligament of his right knee. He now faces only two options: the first is undergoing surgery, which would mean missing 5-6 months but ensures nearly 100% recovery of his knee; or opting for conservative treatment.
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De Jong opted for the second solution, even though it allows his return within approximately three months but carries the risk of not fully guaranteeing the safety of his knee. He stuck to this choice despite the advice of Barcelona's medical staff.
After a month and a half of rehabilitation, de Jong stepped onto the field on August 25 to test the condition of his knee, but the results were not positive. He was forced to leave, displaying signs of extreme frustration on his face.
"AS" reported that Barcelona renewed its efforts to convince de Jong of the necessity of undergoing surgery. Surgeon Joan Carlos Monllau met with the Dutch player and recommended surgery as the optimal solution, but de Jong remained unconvinced and adhered to his initial stance.
The report clarified that there are currently strongly divergent opinions. Barcelona insists that surgery is the only path for de Jong to avoid repeating the scenarios of Samuel Umtiti and Ansu Fati. However, the player himself remains hesitant, as undergoing surgery would practically mean missing the majority of the current season.
The club continues to evaluate de Jong's condition day by day, avoiding setting final deadlines or specific expectations, as they recognize the situation is extremely complex and carries unforeseen consequences.
It was noted that the problem lies in time not being on de Jong's side. Initially, discussions revolved around a four-week period to assess the results of conservative treatment, but more than six weeks have passed, and the situation remains unchanged with no immediate solution on the horizon.
