Details of the injury and treatment plan have been clarified by Mundo Deportivo, which reports that De Jong will continue with rehab rather than undergo immediate operation. The Dutch international began rehabilitation after suffering a knee injury in the World Cup, initially described as manageable but later revealed to involve a complete rupture of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee. This development raised concerns about the timeline for his return and the potential impact on Barcelona’s squad in the coming weeks and months.
In the weeks following the World Cup setback, De Jong returned to action for three additional matches, but further diagnostic tests indicated the full severity of the damage. Barcelona’s medical team subsequently advised surgery as the most robust long-term fix. Nevertheless, De Jong remains committed to a non-surgical path, believing that rehabilitation could still yield full recovery without operation.
The club is closely monitoring the progress of his rehabilitation. A new medical assessment is planned in roughly three weeks to determine whether the current rehabilitation program has produced sufficient improvement. If the knee responds well, De Jong could continue his recovery without surgery. If not, surgery would become more likely, potentially sidelining him for five to six months.
A return timeline remains uncertain. If surgery becomes necessary, an estimated return could stretch to early 2027, which would require Barcelona to navigate the early months of the season without one of their most experienced midfielders.
De Jong’s injury occurred during a Netherlands training session ahead of the World Cup, and his participation in the tournament was completed despite the setback. The ongoing decision-making process centers on whether rehabilitation alone can restore function to its optimal level, or if surgical repair is ultimately unavoidable to ensure long-term knee stability.
This development places significant importance on the upcoming medical evaluations and the effectiveness of the rehabilitation protocol. The club will await the results of the three-week assessment to determine the best course of action, balancing short-term squad needs with long-term player health and performance.
