Injured Barcelona ace rules out immediate surgery; case to be revisited in three weeks

Injured Barcelona ace rules out immediate surgery; case to be revisited in three weeks Barcelona are taking a cautious approach with Frenkie de Jong after the midfielder suffered a serious knee injury, with both the player and the club deciding against immediate surgery while they evaluate the next steps in his recovery. According to Javi Miguel , De Jong has opted not to undergo an operation for now despite being diagnosed with a complete rupture of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee.  The Dutch international will instead continue with conservative treatment before his condition is reviewed again in approximately three weeks, when a final decision on surgery is expected. The latest development comes after Barcelona officially confirmed the severity of the injury on Friday, dealing a significant blow to Hansi Flick’s plans for the 2026/27 campaign.  If surgery eventually becomes unavoidable, the midfielder is expected to be sidelined for five to six months, putting his return to action around January 2027. Barcelona hope to avoid repeating past mistakes Although the medical diagnosis points towards surgery, Barcelona are determined not to rush into a decision. Frenkie de Jong has ruled out immediate surgery. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) The report explains that club officials are mindful of previous injury cases involving Ansu Fati and Samuel Umtiti, where delaying or avoiding surgery ultimately led to longer and more complicated recoveries.  With De Jong, Barcelona want every option to be carefully assessed before committing to a treatment plan. For now, the focus is on reducing inflammation and closely monitoring how the knee responds over the coming weeks.  The medical staff believe another round of examinations will provide a much clearer picture before deciding whether surgery is the only viable solution. Barcelona frustrated by how De Jong was treated The report also claims Barcelona have been left deeply frustrated by the sequence of events that led to the midfielder’s current situation. Frenkie de Jong could be out for a long time. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) Club officials were unaware of the full extent of the problem while De Jong was away with the Netherlands during the FIFA World Cup.  It was only after the midfielder returned early to the Ciutat Esportiva on July 13 to meet Hansi Flick and undergo initial examinations that concerns began to grow. Severe swelling around the knee prevented doctors from reaching an immediate diagnosis, forcing Barcelona to delay further tests until the internal haematoma had reduced.  Even then, the first indications suggested ligament damage, fears that were later confirmed through detailed medical examinations. The developments have left Barcelona disappointed with the handling of the injury, believing earlier communication and a quicker assessment might have changed how the situation was managed.