Frenkie de Jong’s Barcelona Return to Group Training Delayed by Heavy Rain
Frenkie de Jong will have to wait another day before making his long-awaited return to pitch training with his Barcelona teammates.
The Dutch midfielder had been expected to take part in a significant portion of Monday’s training session with the group as he continued his recovery from a right knee injury.
However, his return was delayed for a reason unrelated to his physical condition.
According to SPORT, heavy rain and a weather alert forced Barcelona to keep Monday’s session inside the gym rather than train on the pitch. As a result, De Jong could not complete the planned step in his recovery.
If weather conditions improve, Tuesday should finally provide the midfielder with the opportunity to return to the pitch alongside his teammates.
De Jong’s Return Has Been Carefully Managed
De Jong arrived at Barcelona’s Ciutat Esportiva at 8:35 a.m. on Monday and was expected to make another important progression in his rehabilitation.
Instead, the adverse weather changed the club’s plans.
The midfielder has now been sidelined for more than two months after suffering a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
The injury dates back to the World Cup, when De Jong experienced discomfort during the Netherlands’ group-stage match against Sweden. Despite the problem, he continued playing in the tournament, including 110 minutes against Morocco before the Netherlands were eliminated on penalties.
Following further examinations in Barcelona, the extent of the injury was confirmed.
De Jong and the club ultimately decided against surgery, opting instead for conservative treatment and a gradual rehabilitation programme.
He has since progressed through the various stages of his recovery without rushing the process.
Barcelona Have No Reason to Take Risks
De Jong’s eventual return comes at a particularly positive moment for Hansi Flick’s team.
Barcelona have enjoyed an excellent run of form in La Liga and have built a significant advantage over Real Madrid. With plenty of football still remaining, there is no reason for the club to push De Jong back into competitive action prematurely.
Instead, the priority is to allow him to rebuild his rhythm and fitness step by step.
Once fully recovered, the Netherlands international will give Flick another high-level option in midfield and provide additional depth during a demanding part of the campaign.
De Jong’s Return Could Be Perfectly Timed
The international break has also increased the workload of several Barcelona players.
Rodri, in particular, is expected to return to the club after accumulating significant minutes for both Barcelona and Spain.
De Jong’s gradual comeback could therefore be extremely valuable.
His presence would allow Flick to rotate his midfield more effectively, reduce the workload on his most frequently used players and maintain freshness across a long season.
Barcelona do not need De Jong back immediately.
They need him back fully fit.
And if the weather finally cooperates, Tuesday could mark the beginning of the Dutchman’s final step toward a return to competitive football.
The wait may have lasted more than two months, but De Jong’s return is 👉 SUBSCRIBE TO THE CULERS MEDIA — Follow the latest Barcelona news and breaking Barça stories