Barcelona’s new head coach Hansi Flick has “completely lost confidence” in Frenkie de Jong, with the Dutch midfielder now actively exploring a way out of the club, according to a Spanish report.
The tension between the pair is said to have erupted at the end of last season and reached its peak during the second leg of Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid – a tie in which Barca were knocked out.
Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, who specialises in Barcelona news, reported on Wednesday that Flick’s faith in De Jong collapsed after a clash over the player’s availability for that decisive European fixture.
Flashpoint during Champions League exit
Romero says Flick had planned to start De Jong in the quarter-final second leg once the midfielder was given medical clearance to return.
However, despite being declared fit to play, the Netherlands international is understood to have refused to start the match, fearing it would be too great a risk for his already troubled knee.
That decision is described as the key trigger for the breakdown in their relationship.
According to Romero, Flick was left angered by what he saw as a lack of commitment at a critical moment in the season, while De Jong felt he was being pushed into a situation that could jeopardise his long-term fitness.
The disagreement is said to have crystallised tensions that had been building, and has left both men struggling to see a future together at the Camp Nou.
De Jong ‘looking for a way out’
Romero adds that De Jong is now “looking for an exit” from Barcelona, amid what is described as a “very tense” relationship with Flick.
The 27-year-old, who joined Barca from Ajax in 2019 and has often been one of the club’s most high-profile players, is believed to be weighing up his options as uncertainty over his status under Flick grows.
While the report does not name potential destinations, De Jong has previously attracted long-standing interest from several of Europe’s leading clubs, particularly in the Premier League.
Any move would likely be complicated by his contract and salary, but the latest developments suggest both player and coach may be open to a separation if a suitable offer arrives.
Knee injury and surgery dilemma
De Jong’s situation is further complicated by a serious knee problem suffered while on international duty with the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.
The Barcelona midfielder is considering undergoing surgery on the injury, but is delaying a final decision as he waits to see how his sporting future unfolds.
The prospect of an operation – and the subsequent recovery time – will be a major factor for any interested clubs, as well as for Barcelona’s own planning for next season.
For now, De Jong remains a Barca player, but the reported collapse of trust with Flick, combined with his unresolved knee issue, has left his future at the club more uncertain than at any point since his arrival in Catalonia.
