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Barcelona will start the new season without Dutch star Frankie de Jong, but the club has yet to determine the severity of his knee injury and the expected duration of his absence.
The Catalan club are waiting for the Dutch player to return from holiday to reach a final diagnosis, but the current indicators do not look promising.
The newspaper reported.Sports“If the seriousness of the injury is confirmed, Barcelona’s intention will be to place the player on the long-term absentee list in order to free up more space on the first-team salary cap, a procedure which must be carried out with the approval of the player himself.
There is discontent in Barcelona over the way the Dutch team and player have managed this file, and the club wants to settle the matter once and for all this week.
De Jong’s absence could exceed 4 months
De Jong returned from the World Cup with a serious knee injury after he was reportedly forced to put pressure on himself to take part in his country’s final matches.
During the vacation, the midfielder decided to go to the Sport City club, where he underwent a thorough and comprehensive examination by the medical staff to confirm the nature of the injury.
Tests have already been conducted, and preliminary calculations show that his absence may exceed 4 months.
In this scenario, Barcelona will move to activate the long-term absence option if it is confirmed that the player will not be ready until at least next December.
The Catalan club will receive compensation from FIFA, which may exceed two million euros due to the injury, and will also be able to use the proportional part of the player’s salary until he returns to the team’s roster.
“Barcelona” intends to acquire a new midfielder.
De Jong’s salary is one of the highest in the team, which will allow the club to free up some important money that can be used for other players.
De Jong is expected to return to team training this week, but will not take part in regular group training and travel to the England camp.
Barcelona must announce the length of his absence and the method of recovery, in a situation that is a major blow to coach Hansi Flick’s new project.
Flick sees the Dutch international’s absence as a major setback, given that he is one of the main elements of his team.
On the other hand, “Barcelona” does not intend to acquire a new midfielder, as the management believes that this position is well covered and prefers to give the opportunity to players who can play the role of a base player in front of the defensive line.
Marc Bernal stands out as the most popular alternative available, and this opportunity could be a real breakthrough for the youngster, who has been highly trusted by Flick since arriving at the club.
As for De Jong’s injury, it will not affect Marc Casado’s situation as the club is still examining the offers made to the academy player in order to reach a transfer deal that is suitable for all parties.
