Frenkie de Jong’s return from a knee injury has reopened the debate over his future at Barcelona, with Hansi Flick continuing to trust the Netherlands midfielder while club officials increasingly favour giving academy graduates a greater role.
De Jong suffered the injury while on international duty at the World Cup and returned to Barcelona without a firm timetable for his comeback. He chose conservative treatment rather than surgery, a decision that ultimately proved successful, although he did not play his first match until late October.
The injury, and the way his recovery was handled, caused significant frustration within Barcelona and created a serious rift between the club and the midfielder. Tensions eventually eased, but his return has led to fresh questions about the role he should occupy in the team.
The relationship reached a low point during a difficult August, when De Jong was temporarily stripped of the captaincy and the armband was given to Raphinha. De Jong then asked to speak to the club’s media channels to explain his position and insist that his relationship with Flick remained excellent.
However, Barcelona were unhappy with what they regarded as the player taking a risk with his knee, and made their concerns clear to him during that month.
De Jong’s injury also helped encourage Barcelona to complete the signing of Rodri when the opportunity arose. The club viewed the deal as a chance to recruit the best defensive midfielder in the world, while the uncertainty surrounding De Jong’s recovery made the move easier to justify.
Flick has dealt with the situation gradually. Last Sunday, he gave De Jong minutes in the important match against Real Madrid, believing the midfielder’s physical strength could help Barcelona in the closing stages. The German has consistently said he will make whatever sporting decisions he considers necessary for the team.
De Jong initially operated in a more advanced position against Real Madrid but eventually dropped deeper to receive the ball, appearing more comfortable in his familiar role. In recent weeks, Flick has also tested him at centre-back in training because of growing absences in defence.
That experiment suggested De Jong could be used to fill different gaps in the squad rather than retain the role he held last season. His appearance in El Clasico, though, has left Barcelona with further doubts over how best to use him.
There is a strong internal belief that Pedri and Rodri should form the first-choice midfield partnership. The club also wants rotation opportunities to go to academy players such as Marc Bernal and Gavi, with Bernal regarded as a particularly important investment for the future.
Barcelona’s management would be prepared to give Bernal playing time even if that reduced De Jong’s involvement. The final decision, however, will rest with Flick, who must determine over the coming weeks whether the Dutchman deserves another chance.
The next two months could prove decisive. Limited minutes would make a departure increasingly plausible, while a return to a prominent starting role would effectively reset De Jong’s position at the club.
Many within Barcelona would not view his departure negatively, either on sporting or financial grounds. The greater uncertainty is whether De Jong himself would be willing to consider offers. For that to happen, he would first need to believe his opportunities at Barcelona had become limited.
The report was published on 31 October 2026 and is linked to Barcelona, La Liga and Deportivo Alaves.
