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Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has had a hellish 2024 due to injuries, as a recurring ankle problem kept him out for much of the calendar year. The injury occurred twice during the 2023-24 season, but after reoccurring during El Clásico in April, he spent the next six months on the sidelines.
Initially returning to training in early June, de Jong aggravated the injury while with the Netherlands national team and was sent home to properly recover.
“At first I worried about my ankle day and night. As soon as I woke up, I felt it immediately. Has it swelled? Have you responded? Now I’ve almost lost that feeling. However, the ankle has become something I have to take into account. By this I mean that I will have to continue paying special attention, in the form of care. For some players it is the knee and I have it with the ankle,” he told Voetbal International (via Sport).
Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor will not be able to play in the Champions League if they are not registered. @didacpeyret
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) January 2, 2025
De Jong also explained his disappointment at not having won more trophies in Catalonia, five years after joining the club.
“I have to admit that when I signed for Barcelona I did not imagine that I would win only one League, one Copa del Rey and one Spanish Super Cup after four years. I was expecting at least double that, so that disappoints me. “Things happen and you can’t predict them.”
The Dutch midfielder will turn 28 in May and, heading into his last big contract, will reach a crossroads in his career. He looks set to find it difficult to regain his place in the starting XI, with Pedri and Marc Casado looking right at home for Hansi Flick. He also has Gavi competing for minutes in a deeper role, although Flick later used him on one occasion.
