There has been a new development regarding Frenkie de Jong’s situation at Barcelona, but it also came with a detail the club would not have wanted to see at this stage of his recovery. The midfielder has returned to the pitch and begun another step in his rehabilitation, yet one issue is still preventing Barcelona from being fully optimistic about his imminent return.
The Dutch midfielder was back at the training ground as Barcelona assessed his response to physical work. However, what happened during the session has raised fresh questions over when de Jong will be able to return to full team training.
Frenkie de Jong returned to the pitch on Tuesday, completing a short individual training session at Barcelona’s training ground that included running and physical exercises under the supervision of the medical staff.
His return to the grass represents a positive step in his recovery, particularly after undergoing a closely monitored rehabilitation programme in recent weeks.
However, according to a report from SPORT, de Jong told Barcelona’s medical staff that he is still experiencing pain when slowing down or stopping after running. This remains the main obstacle preventing him from progressing to the next stage of his rehabilitation.
De Jong is back on the grass, but the pain is still present when changing speed and stopping, meaning Barcelona does not want to rush his return.
During the session, de Jong focused on individual running and controlled exercises rather than joining his teammates in group training. The main objective was to gradually increase his workload on the pitch while closely monitoring his knee’s reaction.
The latest signs suggest that his recovery is moving in the right direction, but the pain that appears specifically when braking after running means the midfielder has not yet reached the stage where head coach Hansi Flick can plan his return to the squad.
Frenkie de Jong’s current problem dates back to an injury he suffered while representing the Netherlands at the World Cup. After returning to Barcelona, medical examinations revealed a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
The midfielder decided against surgery and instead opted for conservative treatment and a rehabilitation programme closely monitored by Barcelona’s medical staff.
As a result, Barcelona will not treat de Jong’s return as a race against time. The next stage will depend on how his knee responds over the coming days. If the pain decreases, the club can gradually increase his training workload before considering a return to full team sessions.
For now, there is no definitive date for Frenkie de Jong’s return to the Barcelona squad. The club prefers to proceed cautiously with his knee injury and avoid taking unnecessary risks before he is fully ready, particularly given the possibility of a setback that could extend his absence.
Therefore, while de Jong’s return to the pitch represents an encouraging step, it does not necessarily mean that his return to competitive action is imminent, especially with the midfielder still experiencing pain when changing speed and stopping.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: More negative news regarding Frenkie de Jong who returned to training on the grass today, but still felt some pain.
The session was intended to test how his knee responds and how he feels after several weeks of rehabilitation.
But Frenkie de Jong is STILL… pic.twitter.com/stsgDvuNDL
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 25, 2026