Barcelona have announced that midfielder Frenkie de Jong suffered a right hamstring strain against Real Madrid. These are not unheard of injuries but they are injuries that can make a call on the season for a player.
The Dutch international, 24, started Barcelona’s 2-1 El Clasico defeat before being replaced after 77 minutes by Sergi Roberto. It obviously is disappointing for the young midfielder as he hoped to have a stunning season and make his name in the game.
De Jong has now been ruled out for the immediate future, although there is no clear timescale for his return.
A statement from the club read: “The first team player Frenkie de Jong has a hamstring strain in his right thigh. The midfielder is unavailable for selection and his recovery will dictate his return.”
De Jong has made 11 appearances for Barcelona this season, starting every La Liga match except for the game against Levante, for which he was suspended.
A calf injury suffered in pre-season threatened his involvement in Barcelona’s season opener against Real Sociedad, but he recovered sufficiently to feature in his team’s 4-2 win.
Last season, De Jong was a permanent fixture for both club and country. No player who appeared at Euro 2020 played more minutes in 2020-21, with the Dutchman racking up 5534 minutes prior to the tournament, a full 90 minutes clear of second-place Ruben Dias.
