Frenkie de Jong facing up to four months out with knee injury

Barcelona and Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong could be sidelined for an extended period once again. According to Spanish outlet Marca, the 29-year-old picked up a knee injury while on international duty at the 2026 World Cup. De Jong is set to undergo further medical tests in the coming days. If the initial diagnosis is confirmed, he could miss roughly four months — a major blow for Hansi Flick's side as the new campaign gets underway. The Dutch international already spent several months on the sidelines last season due to various fitness issues. Still, he managed to feature in 38 matches, scoring once and providing eight assists. Netherlands, for their part, were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 32, falling on penalties.