Dutch midfielder is a particularly difficult player to replace but youngster Marc Bernal may be given more minutes
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is out for up to six weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury in training on Thursday.
The club said in a statement: “First-team player Frenkie de Jong sustained an injury to the distal biceps of his right leg during this morning’s training session.
“”Medical tests have confirmed that the expected recovery period will be approximately five-to-six weeks.”
❗️Medical report
First-team player Frenkie de Jong sustained an injury to the distal biceps of his right leg during this morning’s training session.
Medical tests have confirmed that the expected recovery period will be approximately five to six weeks. pic.twitter.com/2irBhMoAG2
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 26, 2026
What now for Barcelona? De Jong featured against Levante on Sunday and scored the second goal in a 3-0 victory that took the Catalans back to the top of La Liga.
Indeed the Dutchman has been a constant presence in the midfield. When he has been fit, he has played 90 minutes, except in situations Hansi Flick has deemed it fit to rest him.
This season, despite missing a few games due to fitness or illness, he has played 31 games in all competitions so far, starting 26: a combined total of nearly 2,500 minutes.
With midfielder Pedri also facing fitness troubles of his own, De Jong’s absence for a month and a half means Barcelona will be light in midfield areas, and especially as the club draw near to the business end of the season.
Most insiders in the club’s dressing room have already expressed the general feeling that their poor form this season has been a result of consistent injury issues. Pedri, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Joan Garcia, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez, almost the entire squad, have all faced fitness issues this season.
But De Jong is a particularly difficult player to replace. His press resistance and ability to carry the ball forward and find the right pass are extremely valuable and extremely rare skills. They are also vital to the way Barcelona play. Flick relies on his midfielders keeping the ball to ease pressure on a weak defence.
Pedri’s absence with an injury twice this season has made that difficult, but with the Spaniard needing his minutes managed, De Jong’s absence will further impact Barcelona’s performances.
One option for Barcelona, perhaps the primary option, is 18-year-old Marc Bernal. The youngster has featured in many games this season, but usually as a substitute as the club have tried to manage his minutes. He has made 20 appearances in all competitions this season and impressed, although he has started only a quarter of those.
In the coming weeks, he, Pedri, Marc Casado and likely Eric Garcia will be rotated in the deep-lying midfield position.
