Flick faces his first major setback before the season begins

FC Barcelona

160

De Jong
5.040.000€+420.000€    -

J1

MD

51

Barcelona's planning for the start of the new season could take a major hit even before they play their first official match. At the club, there is deep concern about Frenkie de Jong's physical condition, with the injury threatening to leave a gap in the midfield for much of the season's opening stretch.

The Netherlands international returned to the Ciutat Esportiva after his international commitments and the first checks did not bring good signs. Although more tests are still needed to determine the final diagnosis, the medical services are working with a scenario that could keep the player away from the pitch for around four months.

If that timeline is confirmed, De Jong would not return to competition until November. That would mean missing a significant chunk of the early months of the campaign, a blow for Hansi Flick, who counts on the midfielder as one of the cornerstones of his project.

For now, Barcelona is keeping cautious and has not published any medical update, while the club waits to have all the results before making an official statement about the extent of the injury and the estimated recovery time.

The Dutchman's recent record also does not inspire optimism, because last season he was already close to two months out with a muscle injury suffered between February and April. On top of that, the ankle problems he carried from previous seasons have added to the concern; those issues forced him to spend around half a year without playing and made him miss more than three dozen matches.

Preseason has barely just started, but the Barça is already watching with unease the progress of one of its most important players. Everything now depends on the medical tests that will determine whether the bleakest forecasts end up becoming reality.

The replacements

103

Marc Bernal
2.240.000€+290.000€    5

J1

MD

12

Marc Bernal, who earned the spot last year, is gaining momentum as a starter and, for the moment, with no clear rivals.

79

Marc Casadó
980.000€    6

J1

MD

10

Another affected player, curiously, would be Marc Casadó, the player Barcelona has on the transfer market and with several offers already on the table.

7

Xavi Espart
520.000€    -

J1

DF

00

Finally, we add Xavi Espart, the right-back, who arrives for preseason after winning the Under-19 Euro and forming a winning midfield with Pitarch and Quim Junyent, playing in that position and whom Hansi Flick "baptized" as Philipp Lahm for his versatility and vision. 

We will wait for the official medical report and for the moves by Flick and Barcelona to see how they cover this position.