Frenkie de Jong: late comeback, no key dates until November
Frenkie de Jong will rejoin the Barça squad on Monday, October 5, but he will still have three weeks left to obtain medical clearance, which will prevent him from playing the matches against PSG (October 20) and Real Madrid (October 25); his first window to return will be the clash against Alavés on November 1 at the Camp Nou.
Schedule and absences
The club has confirmed that the Dutch midfielder will not be available for the La Liga fixtures against Paris Saint‑Germain or Real Madrid, both scheduled in October. The date earmarked for his possible return is November 1, when Barça will host Deportivo Alavés at the Camp Nou.
The tight schedule leaves the team without one of its key pieces during a decisive stretch of the league, forcing Hansi Flick to look for alternatives among the rest of the midfield.
Rehabilitation plan
The recovery process will be overseen by fitness coach Benjamin Kugel, who will increase the workload gradually. In his first sessions, De Jong will take part in short games and strength exercises in the gym, before focusing on physical contacts and shots on goal.
According to the information, the estimated period to complete this phase ranges between fifteen and twenty days, although it could be extended due to the lack of pre‑season and almost four months without competition.
The player reports positive sensations and the club maintains a relative optimism, although caution remains due to the high risk of destabilising the injured knee.
The injury, sustained on June 16 during a training session with the Netherlands national team, was a tear of the lateral inner ligament of the right knee; De Jong played injured in three matches before being diagnosed, and has been away from training with his teammates for three and a half months.
Once he receives clearance, the Dutchman will face strong competition in midfield: Rodri and Marc Bernal dominate the position, while Gavi and Pedri are also in the rotation. In addition, Hansi Flick has options such as Dani Olmo and Fermín López to bolster the area.
The contrast between the initial optimism and the uncertainty over his availability highlights Barça's delicate situation, which will have to manage its squad while awaiting De Jong's full recovery.