Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been ruled out for the rest of the La Liga season after sustaining an ankle sprain in the El Clasico clash with Real Madrid. The injury is a major blow to Barcelona’s hopes of securing second place in the table, as they trail leaders Real Madrid by 11 points with just six games remaining.
De Jong suffered the injury in a challenge with Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde in the latter stages of the first half at the Bernabeu. He was forced to be substituted and did not return for the second half.
Barcelona confirmed the extent of De Jong’s injury in a statement on Monday. “Tests carried out on Monday have confirmed that first-team player Frenkie de Jong has a right ankle sprain,” the statement read. “He is out and his recovery will determine his availability.”
The Dutch international has already spent time out with two separate ankle problems this season, and his latest injury is a major setback for both club and country. He has been restricted to 30 appearances in all competitions this term, and his absence will be a major blow to Barcelona’s hopes of finishing the season on a high.
De Jong is also likely to miss the Netherlands’ European Championship campaign this summer. The tournament begins on June 14, and De Jong’s injury means he is likely to be out for at least the group stage.
The news of De Jong’s injury is a major blow to Barcelona, who are already struggling to keep pace with Real Madrid in the title race. The Catalan giants have won just one of their last five La Liga games, and they will need to improve their form quickly if they want to secure second place.
Barcelona will be hoping that De Jong can return to action in time for the start of next season, but for now, they will have to cope without one of their key players.
