Barcelona Confirm Frenkie de Jong’s Ankle Injury, Uncertainty Over Return Date

Barcelona has officially confirmed Frenkie de Jong’s ankle injury, raising concerns about his potential absence until November. During Barcelona’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday, the Dutch midfielder had to be substituted for Gavi in the first half.

While the club acknowledged the nature of the injury as an ankle problem, they refrained from specifying a timeline for his comeback. Their statement stated, “Tests on first-team player Frenkie de Jong revealed an injury to the tibiofibular syndesmosis in his right ankle. His availability and return hinge on the recovery process.”

However, Spanish news outlet Diario AS has suggested a possible absence of five to seven weeks for De Jong. This ominous timeline raises the question of whether he’ll be absent for the highly anticipated first Clasico of the season against Real Madrid, scheduled for October 28.

De Jong is expected to miss several upcoming fixtures for Barcelona, including matches against Real Mallorca and Sevilla. Additionally, he may have to sit out the Champions League clash with Porto on October 4 and the subsequent league encounter with Granada four days later, which serves as the final fixture before the October international break.