Frenkie de Jong hits back at ‘false reports’ over Barcelona future and World Cup injury

Frenkie de Jong has issued a strongly worded public statement insisting his commitment to Barcelona is “unchanged” and condemning what he described as “false reports” questioning his relationship with the club and the nature of his injury.

The Netherlands midfielder broke his silence in a post on Instagram, saying he usually ignores speculation but felt compelled to respond after recent coverage of his situation at Barcelona and doubts raised about his fitness.

“Dear fans, normally I don’t pay too much attention to what is written about me or about the team or the club,” De Jong wrote. “But lately there’s been a lot of speculation about my injury and my situation at Barcelona.”

He said he had been particularly hurt by suggestions his loyalty to the club was in doubt.

“It’s difficult for me to see people question my relationship and commitment to the club because of false reports,” he said.

“Football is everything to me and I’ve given everything I have for Barcelona and for my country… that’s why I want to share with you what happened.”

World Cup knee injury ‘more serious’ than first thought

De Jong went on to explain in detail how he picked up his current knee problem while on international duty at the World Cup, and how the initial medical diagnosis underestimated the seriousness of the issue.

“During the World Cup, I suffered an injury to my knee,” he said. “After the initial examinations, the doctors told me it was a minor injury and that it wouldn’t get worse if I continued to play.”

He added that the medical advice at the time was that he could continue to feature, though he would have to manage discomfort.

“The only challenge was playing with some pain,” he continued. “But throughout my career I’ve done that whenever I could contribute, whether for my club or for my national team.”

De Jong explained that further tests during his holiday period, once he had returned to Spain, revealed a different picture.

“During my holiday, I came back to Barcelona for more tests, and they showed that the injury was more serious than it was first diagnosed,” he said.

“Luckily, there is no need for surgery at this stage, and I am now fully focused on recovering and getting back on the pitch as soon as possible.”

‘I take my responsibility to the team seriously’

The 27-year-old underlined that he is working daily to return to full fitness and stressed his professionalism, saying the setback was not something he could control.

“I work every day to be in the best physical condition possible,” De Jong said. “I take my profession, my body and my responsibility towards the team seriously. But sometimes there are things you cannot control, and this injury is one of them.”

His comments come after a period of intense scrutiny around his future and fitness, with parts of the Spanish and international media questioning both the extent of his problem and his long-term role at Barcelona. De Jong did not name any specific reports or outlets, but framed his message as a direct response to those claims.

Pledge of loyalty to Barcelona and the Netherlands

De Jong ended his statement by reiterating his sense of pride at representing both Barcelona and the Netherlands and promising supporters that his dedication will not change.

“Playing for Barcelona and for the Dutch national team is something I’m extremely proud of, and my commitment to them will never change,” he said.

“I will continue to give everything I have for this badge, for my team-mates and for our fans. There are still many moments we want to create and goals we want to achieve together.

“Thank you all for your support. I can’t wait to be back.”

De Jong did not give a specific timeline for his return but made clear his focus is solely on rehabilitation and helping Barcelona again “as soon as possible”.