Overview
- Citing a Friday interview with Barça Play, Frenkie de Jong denied that he refused to play against Atlético and rejected claims that he has a poor relationship with coach Hansi Flick.
- De Jong explicitly named journalist Gerard Romero as the source of several false stories and said the coverage was harming his image.
- He said the knee problem began in a training incident, that early tests showed a minor issue, and that later scans revealed the injury was more serious.
- De Jong confirmed he is following a physiotherapy rehabilitation plan agreed with the club, while earlier reports that he and Barcelona were deadlocked over surgery — a step that could mean a four‑to‑six‑month absence and registration consequences — remain in play.
- The dispute matters for Barcelona because De Jong’s history of recurring injuries since 2019 has pushed the club to explore midfield reinforcements and possible registration or compensation measures, and his public response changes how the club and fans may view the medical and media debate.