Barcelona have suffered a major setback ahead of their La Liga clash with Valencia on September 14, as three first-team regulars have been ruled out through injury following the international break.
Softfootball understands that Frenkie de Jong made an early return to Barcelona after suffering an injury scare while on international duty with the Netherlands. De Jong exited the Netherland’s 1–1 draw with Poland just seven minutes before the final whistle.
The Barcelona midfielder appeared to have some discomfort as he came off the pitch and retreated to the bench prompting concern. One day later, the Dutch national team announced on their X handle that De Jong will not participate in their upcoming game against Lithuania and has gone back to Catalonia.
According to Fabrizio Romano via his Facebook page, Barcelona will be without Gavi and Alejandro Balde for their upcoming La Liga clash against Valencia, while Frenkie de Jong also remains a doubt.
The injuries mark a significant setback for Xavi’s side as they prepare for a crucial fixture immediately after the international break. The post reads:
Gavi and Balde are out of the match against Valencia. Frenkie de Jong is also a doubt, reports Diario As.
This blow comes at a particularly bad time for Barcelona. Flick is already without Gavi and Alejandro Balde, who are dealing with knee and hamstring problems respectively. Plus, Lamine Yamal suffered an injury scare while on international duty with Spain.
The last thing Flick needs is one of his leaders sidelined for a lengthy spell, especially in the wake of his side’s poor 1–1 draw with Rayo Vallecano before the international break. Not to mention that Barcelona’s 2025–26 Champions League opener against Newcastle United is less than two weeks away.
As at the time of filing this report, neither the Netherlands nor Barcelona have confirmed the extent of the injury before a decision is made, though, the 28-year-old is set to undergo medical tests to determine the severity of the injury.
