Barcelona’s De Jong returns from World Cup with torn ligament

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Barcelona’s Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong is undergoing treatment on a torn knee ligament suffered while on national duty at the World Cup, the Spanish champions said on Thursday.

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De Jong said the injury came to light on his return from the World Cup when Barcelona doctors returned a more serious diagnosis than the original assessment from the Dutch medical staff.

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De Jong suffered “a tear of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee,” Barcelona said in a statement.

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“It has been agreed that the player will continue with conservative treatment under the supervision of the club’s medical staff. His progress will be monitored over the coming weeks.”

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De Jong said he played through the pain at the World Cup where the Netherlands exited in the last-32.

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“During the World Cup I injured my knee. After the first assessments, the (Dutch team) doctors told me it was a small injury and that it would not get worse if I continued playing,” De Jong said on Instagram.

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“The only challenge was playing with some pain, but throughout my career I have done that whenever I could contribute to the team, both for my club and my country.”

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After starting in two group phase matches De Jong, 29, missed the Netherlands’ third game, a 3-1 win over Tunisia, but played 109 minutes of the penalty shoot-out defeat to Morocco in the first knock-out round.

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The situation changed when he returned to club duties, where more intensive medical tests revealed the true extent of the damage.

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“These showed that the injury was more serious than initially determined. Thankfully at this stage there is no need for surgery and I am now fully focused on my recovery and returning to the pitch as soon as possible,” he added.

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Barcelona begin the defence of their Liga title away at Elche on August 23.

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AFP

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