National team coach admits Barcelona midfielder’s injury situation is ‘worrying’

Ronald Koeman, the coach of the Netherlands national team, has expressed his concerns over Frenkie de Jong’s current situation. 

De Jong, who has been sidelined for quite some time, is still not fully fit. This has raised worries for Koeman and the national team, especially as De Jong is a key player whose absence could impact the team’s performance.

Koeman explained that De Jong has been dealing with a persistent ankle injury. It is not just a one-time problem—he has suffered the same injury three times in a row. 

This recurrence indicates that there is some underlying damage to his ankle, which is taking longer than expected to heal. Although there have been some signs of improvement in De Jong’s condition, he is still not at the level where he can return to full training or play matches.

“Frenkie de Jong’s situation is worrying, because it’s a long time he’s been out for. I understand that things are getting better and better, but he’s not fully fit yet,” Koeman told the press (h/t BD.NL).

Ronald Koeman has expressed concerns over Frenkie de Jong’s fitness. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“He has suffered an annoying ankle injury three times in a row. There’s damage and it takes time to recover. That takes a long time, but let’s hope he recovers completely. That’s good for us too,” he added.

What’s latest with de Jong?

As reported before, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is hopeful that De Jong will be ready to play after the international break. The player has been working hard on his recovery and is now entering the final stages of their rehabilitation. 

However, Flick has made it clear that he will not rush the midfielder back into action. He wants to ensure that he is fully fit before he returns to the pitch, prioritising his long-term health over any short-term gains.

The Dutch midfielder has been sidelined for over four months, and there have been concerns about the pace of his recovery. At one point, there was even talk of him possibly needing surgery if his ankle did not improve. 

Such a scenario would have been a significant setback for both the player and the team.