Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona's midfielder, issued an official statement in response to speculation concerning his injury and alleged decreased commitment to the club.
"Dear fans,
Normally, I don’t pay much attention to what is written about me, the team, or the club, but recently there has been a lot of speculation about my injury and my situation at Barça.
It’s difficult for me to see people question my relationship and commitment to the club due to false reports.
Football means everything to me, and I have always given everything for FC Barcelona and my country. That is why I want to share what happened," he said.
He explained that he injured his knee during the World Cup, but after initial assessments, the national team doctors told him the injury was minor and wouldn’t worsen if he continued playing.
"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," de Jong noted.
Only after returning to Barcelona for further examinations did he learn the injury was more severe than initially thought.
"Thankfully, at this stage, surgery is not needed, and I am now fully focused on my recovery and returning to the pitch as soon as possible.
Every day, I work to be in the best possible shape. I take my profession, my body, and my responsibility to the team extremely seriously. But sometimes there are things you cannot control, and this injury is one of them," he stressed.
Reiterating his commitment, he added, "Playing for Barça and Oranje is something I feel incredibly proud of, and my commitment to both will never change. I will continue to give everything for this badge, for my teammates, and for our fans.
There are still many moments to create and goals we want to achieve together. Thank you for all your support. I can’t wait to be back." He concluded, "Visca Barça Sempre."
This statement came amid reports of tensions between de Jong and manager Hansi Flick, as well as doubts about the player's motivation late in the season—claims the midfielder firmly denied.
