Manchester City ruled out summer move for Barcelona midfielder after reviewing medical report

Manchester City ruled out summer move for Barcelona midfielder after reviewing medical report FC Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has taken an important step in his recovery from the injury to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Barcelona ace has started taking part in sections of team training and, although he still needs time before receiving medical clearance and becoming available to Hansi Flick, his return to competitive action is getting closer. That is good news for Barça, although De Jong could face a difficult battle for regular playing time when he returns. Competition in midfield was already fierce, but the arrival of Rodri and the development of Marc Bernal have made minutes even harder to come by. Manchester City considered De Jong as Rodri’s replacement De Jong had an opportunity to leave Barcelona during the summer. As previously reported , Manchester City explored the possibility of signing him to strengthen their midfield after learning that Rodri was considering leaving the Etihad Stadium. Now, according to the Barça Reservat podcast (h/t SPORT ), Barcelona’s sporting department, led by Deco, was aware of City’s interest. Manchester City held an interest in De Jong. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) The Catalans did not oppose a potential transfer if a suitable offer arrived and made it clear that the Dutchman was not considered an untouchable player. The Cityzens subsequently requested medical reports on the Netherlands international to assess his physical condition following the World Cup. And, according to the report, after reviewing the information, the Premier League club decided not to take the move any further, although it is unclear whether or not that decision was directly connected to his medical situation. Manchester City eventually opted for younger midfield profiles and spent heavily on Enzo Fernandez, who cost €145 million, while also signing Elliot Anderson for €135 million and Ayyoub Bouaddi for €95 million. De Jong faces an important season at Barcelona This season will be significant for De Jong’s future. The 29-year-old is under contract with Barcelona until 30 June 2029 and still has plenty of time to remain an important player at the highest level. An important season ahead for De Jong. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) However, his position within Flick’s project is uncertain, and the amount of playing time he receives throughout the campaign will help determine his role going forward. De Jong has always made it clear that he is happy in Barcelona and has no intention of leaving. That could change if his role and playing time decline significantly, but for now there is no indication that he is looking for a move. His return to group training is nevertheless excellent news for the La Liga champions. The club will need a deep squad if they want to compete for the biggest trophies, and a fully fit De Jong can make a significant difference at his best. What happened during the summer is now in the past. His knee is responding well to conservative treatment, and Barcelona are increasingly positive about what the Dutchman can contribute once he is ready to return.