Barcelona boss Flick rules out Jesse Biesio for Feyenoord Champions League tie

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has confirmed that Belgian winger Jesse Biesio will not be involved in Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Feyenoord.

Biesio’s absence was addressed by Flick during his pre-match news conference, although the German said the player is fit and remains part of his plans at Barcelona.

“Jesse will not be with the team on Wednesday, but he is fine,” Flick said. “The idea is for him to train with us and play for Barcelona Atletic. But he is connected to us and has exceptional potential.”

Barcelona begin their Champions League campaign against Feyenoord on Wednesday, with Flick indicating that Biesio’s immediate pathway will involve continuing his development with the club’s reserve side rather than being included in the first-team squad.

The manager was also asked about Frenkie de Jong, who has been working his way back from a serious right-knee injury.

“He has incredible potential, and I am happy to have him with us,” Flick said. “He needs to recover and train a lot, and that is what he is doing. I hope we can see him in the next few weeks.”

De Jong played in each of the Netherlands’ final three matches at the World Cup despite experiencing pain in his right knee. The problem became increasingly concerning, with the midfielder visibly affected during the Netherlands’ match against Morocco.

The Dutchman later explained that medical staff had misjudged his condition, saying doctors had underestimated the seriousness of the pain he was experiencing in the knee.

After the Netherlands were eliminated by Morocco, De Jong decided to take several weeks away from football. He returned to Barcelona’s training centre on 13 July, but appeared clearly concerned as the discomfort continued and swelling around his knee became evident.

Medical examinations carried out in Barcelona subsequently confirmed the extent of the problem. Tests showed that De Jong had suffered a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

His recovery remains under observation, with Flick stressing that the player must continue to build up his fitness through training before returning to competitive action. The Barcelona manager offered no firm date for De Jong’s comeback, but said he hoped the midfielder would be available within the coming weeks.

For now, Barcelona will prepare to face Feyenoord without Biesio, while De Jong continues his rehabilitation and training programme. The club’s focus will be on managing the Belgian winger’s development with Barcelona Atletic and ensuring De Jong makes a full recovery from his knee injury.