Earlier today, it came to light that Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong ended the FIFA World Cup injured and has arrived in Catalonia with a physical setback.

Medical staff will conduct tests in the coming days to determine the extent of the Dutchman’s injury, but the initial reports remain discouraging.

The club fears the player could miss up to four months of action, which would deal a massive blow to Hansi Flick’s tactical plans.

A concerning record

As reported by SPORT, there is internal concern regarding the fitness of De Jong, as his health has fluctuated significantly in recent years.

Hansi Flick has rarely been able to rely on the midfielder since taking over as first-team coach.

In the German manager’s first season, an ankle injury kept De Jong sidelined until October, forcing him to miss a crucial portion of the season’s opening.

Last season, he missed another major stretch between February and April due to a muscular injury, which significantly disrupted the team’s momentum.

Between these two spells, the midfielder missed over 200 days and 36 matches. Furthermore, he sat out an additional seven games due to various minor setbacks under Flick.

A worrying trend

De Jong’s fitness has become increasingly fragile. During his first five seasons at the club, he averaged only eight missed games per season; however, his availability has declined progressively since then.

Now 29, De Jong should be in the prime of his professional career, yet he continues to battle persistent injuries.

The Dutch national team’s management has faced criticism for the handling of the player’s fitness, as his condition has worsened repeatedly while on international duty.

Controversy surrounded his selection for Euro 2024 despite existing ankle issues, and reports now indicate he played with painkiller injections in his nation’s final World Cup games.