According to a report from Sergi Sole in Mundo Deportivo, Frenkie de Jong’s availability for Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League match against Young Boys will be determined after Monday’s training session.
The decision will be made based on his physical condition, and the club will decide if he can make the squad for Tuesday’s match. If not, his return could be postponed until Barcelona’s game against Alaves on 6th October.
The timing of de Jong’s return also plays a role in his potential call-up for the Netherlands national team by Ronald Koeman. The Dutchman could be selected for the upcoming Nations League matches against Hungary on Friday, 11th October, and Germany on Monday, 14th October.
Barcelona would not want him to go
Naturally, Barcelona would prefer if de Jong did not join the national squad to avoid the physical toll of training, matches, and travel.
This is especially crucial for Barcelona, as they are preparing for a challenging period following the international break, with key fixtures against Sevilla, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid on the horizon.
In the meantime, de Jong is set to break his silence in an interview with Barça One on Sunday. During this interview, he will likely address his fitness and physical condition, as well as the ongoing discussions about his salary, which has been a hot topic recently.
A lot of talks
De Jong’s salary has increased significantly after he agreed to defer a portion of it during the pandemic. Back in October 2020, he extended his contract from 2024 to 2026 to accommodate the deferred payments.
Despite this, he has yet to accept Barcelona’s offer to renew his contract, which was presented ten months ago.
In recent days, speculation about de Jong’s future at Barcelona has intensified. Given his high salary, it is rumoured that Barcelona are considering paying the deferred amount in full, but only if de Jong agrees to leave the club in the summer.
