Just in: Barcelona captain could be out for 4 months after returning from World Cup with serious knee injury

Just in: Barcelona captain could be out for 4 months after returning from World Cup with serious knee injury FC Barcelona’s preseason has barely begun, but the club could already be facing a major setback. Indeed, in a very concerning development, Matteo Moretto via MARCA reports that Frenkie de Jong returned to the Ciutat Esportiva for medical assessments on Monday carrying what is understood to be a significant knee injury. It has now raised fears that he could be sidelined for several months. While many of Barcelona’s World Cup participants remain on holiday, De Jong and Ronald Araujo were among the players who reported to the training ground ahead of schedule. Unfortunately for the Dutch midfielder, his return brought worrying news. Serious knee problem According to the report, De Jong is dealing with an important knee injury, although the club has yet to establish the full extent of the damage. It was already reported that the Dutchman finished the tournament with a knee issue , but it was believed that the problem was not serious. However, things have turned out differently now. Further medical tests are scheduled over the coming days before Barcelona reaches a definitive diagnosis. De Jong has returned with a knee injury (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) However, there is growing concern internally, with early indications suggesting the midfielder could miss up to four months of action. If confirmed, it would represent another major injury setback for one of the club’s most influential players. Barcelona have not yet released an official medical statement regarding De Jong’s condition. The Blaugrana are expected to wait until all examinations have been completed before confirming the diagnosis and providing an estimated recovery timeline. Until then, uncertainty remains, although the initial outlook is far from encouraging. Another frustrating injury De Jong has struggled with fitness issues over the past few seasons. Last campaign, he missed nearly two months with a thigh muscle injury sustained during a crucial stage of the season between late February and early April. Facing four months out. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Before that, recurring ankle problems forced him into two separate spells on the sidelines, keeping him out for a combined six months and causing him to miss 31 matches. Those injuries repeatedly interrupted his rhythm just as he was establishing himself as one of Barcelona’s key midfielders. Set to miss the start of the season Should the feared recovery timeline prove accurate, De Jong would not return until around November. Such an absence would rule him out for a significant portion of the opening months of the season, dealing an early blow to Hansi Flick’s plans and leaving Barcelona without one of their most experienced midfielders during a crucial period. The Catalans are now awaiting the results of further tests, hoping for better news but preparing for the possibility of another lengthy rehabilitation for the Dutch international.