Credit: David Ramos/Getty Images

Dutchman Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona midfielder, issued a clarifying statement in which he responded to rumors about a crisis in his relationship with the club and coach Hansi Flick's loss of trust in him, and explained what happened after his injury during the 2026 World Cup.

This message comes amid widespread media speculation about the player's future at the Catalan club.

De Jong addressed a message to the fans on his Instagram page, saying: 'I usually don't pay much attention to what is written about me, the team, or the club. But recently, speculation has increased regarding my injury and my situation at Barcelona.'

The Dutch midfielder continued: 'It's hard for me to see people questioning my relationship with the club or my commitment to it because of incorrect reports. Football is everything to me, and I have always given my all for FC Barcelona and my national team. So I want to clarify what happened.'

De Jong added: 'During the World Cup, I suffered a knee injury. After initial examinations, the doctors told me it was a minor injury and that it would not worsen if I continued playing. The only challenge was playing with some pain, but throughout my career, I have been used to doing that whenever I could help the team, whether with the club or the national team.'

The Dutch player continued: 'During my vacation, I returned to Barcelona for additional tests. These tests showed that the injury was more serious than initially thought. Fortunately, there is no need for surgery at this stage, and I am now fully focused on recovering and returning to the pitch as soon as possible.'

Frenkie continued: 'I work every day to be in the best possible condition. I take my profession, my body, and my responsibility to the team very seriously. But sometimes things happen that you cannot control, and this injury is one of them.'

The Dutch star added: 'Playing for Barcelona and the Netherlands national team is something I am very proud of, and my commitment to them will never change. I will continue to give my all for this badge, for my teammates, and for our fans.'

De Jong concluded his message by saying: 'There are still many moments we will create together, and many goals we want to achieve. Thank you all for your support. I can't wait to come back.'

Media outlets indicated that the relationship between Barcelona and De Jong had seen tension due to the club blaming the player for the recurrence of his injury while playing with the Netherlands national team.

Additionally, reports mentioned that De Jong refused to participate in the match against Atlético Madrid despite his recovery, causing coach Hansi Flick to lose trust in him.

De Jong left the match between Netherlands and Morocco in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup during the first extra time after suffering an injury.

De Jong hopes to regain his fitness quickly to contribute to Barcelona in upcoming matches, as the team is suffering from some absences. The message shows the player's eagerness to deny any disagreement with the club and the coach. However, doubts remain about how Flick will respond to the player in the future. The media controversy over the player's relationship with the club has worried fans, especially with the summer transfer window approaching.