Alarm bells at Barcelona: Frenkie de Jong suffers serious injury

Barcelona's pre-season preparations have hit an early snag. On Monday, several first-team players reported for mandatory medical check-ups. While those who participated in the World Cup were given extended leave, Ronald Araújo and Frenkie de Jong were among those present at the club's facilities, with the Dutchman unfortunately becoming the center of bad news.

According to reports from 'Marca', the midfielder has sustained a serious knee injury. A final diagnosis is still pending as further tests are scheduled in the coming days. However, there is significant concern within the club, with fears of a worst-case scenario. It's possible that De Jong could be sidelined for several months, with some reports suggesting a recovery period of up to four months.

For now, the club has not released an official statement regarding the injury. A definitive diagnosis must be confirmed first, which will only happen after the player undergoes all necessary tests. What seems certain, however, is that the situation is far from optimistic.

De Jong has been unlucky with injuries in recent years. Last season, he missed nearly two months of action due to a thigh muscle injury. This occurred at a crucial point in the campaign, between late February and early April. Before that, he suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him on two separate occasions, accumulating a total of six months on the sidelines and missing 31 matches.

It remains to be seen how long he will be out this time. If the four-month prognosis is confirmed, the midfielder will not be able to return to action before November, missing a significant portion of the start of the season.