FC Barcelona legend and newly-appointed Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez is reportedly worried about Frenkie de Jong‘s situation at the club according to the Catalan media and in particular prominent journalist Jordi Grau.
De Jong is currently sidelined thanks to a medial lateral ligament rupture in his right knee picked up during the World Cup.
The injury wasn’t known by the club until De Jong turned up after the Netherlands’ campaign concluded via a last 32 penalties loss to the Netherlands.
At present, there’s no specific date for his return to Blaugrana action. De Jong has opted to follow conservative treatment, rather than go under the knife as the club allegedly wishes him to leaving it “furious”.
As well as that friction, De Jong is fighting a battle in the Catalan media. He gave an explosive interview through the club’s official channels to explain his version of certain accusations that have been launched at him, and even mentioned one journalist specifically by name.
All of this is a worry to Xavi, who knows better than most how the entorno group made up media figures, ex-players and leaders, and even fans, contribute to a pressure cooker environment at one of the world’s most demanding clubs.
Xavi also has to think about his first Netherlands squad, after being appointed the Oranje’s head coach to replace fellow Barca icon Ronald Koeman for the second time this decade like he did at the Spotify Camp Nou in 2021.
Whether De Jong will be available for the Netherlands in the next international window from September 24th to October 6 is one thing.
But what’s for certain is the 2019 signing from Ajax will become vital for Xavi again, like he was during the iconic number 6’s Spotify Camp Nou dugout reign from 2021 to 2024.
De Jong understands Xavi’s possession-based style of play, which the Catalan wants to install on the road to Euro 2028.
Back in Barcelona, De Jong’s future is now in doubt because of the arrival of Rodri from Manchester City. With a contract that runs until 2029, next summer would be the perfect time for the club to cash in on the Dutchman, who has always had interest from the Premier League.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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