Frenkie de Jong was one of the big absentees from Euro 2024. Affected in the right ankle, the midfielder of the Netherlands and FC Barcelona had a very complicated end of season. Away from the field for several weeks before making his return with the Blaugranas in April for the quarter-final of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, the Dutchman did not last long before relapsing.
Coming off injured five days after the elimination suffered against PSG, during the Clasico, Frenkie de Jong then had to withdraw from the European Championship. In the end, the Dutchman will have relapsed three times in just six months. And for the Oranje coach, Ronald Koeman, if FDJ is where it is, it is largely because of Barça. Always ready to draw against the Laporta management, the former Blaugrana coach even made rather worrying comments regarding the physical condition of his player.
Koeman attacks Barça
“Of course I talk to him, because we know each other well. He is worried about his injury. Before the European Championship, we thought he would not play in the first match (of the group stage, editor’s note), but we hoped he would be able to play in the tournament, which ultimately did not happen. He has a serious injury and we have to wait and see how it goes. I wish him good luck and a speedy recovery, but he is not ready to play yet.”he said, in remarks relayed by Sportbefore concluding.
“His club took a risk and now we have to pay the price. I think I know a lot more than you, he played important games when he wasn’t ready to play, he wasn’t in the rhythm of the games or training to play the games against PSG. On the other hand, I understand, because it was a very important moment for Barça, but in the end, it wasn’t good for Frenkie’s health.” And for the moment, no return date has been announced for the Batavian.
