Barcelona's De Jong ruled out for weeks due to serious knee injury

Barcelona and the Netherlands face a significant blow as midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been ruled out for several weeks due to torn knee ligaments. The injury, sustained during the World Cup, was more serious than initially assessed, forcing him to miss the start of Barcelona's LaLiga title defense.

De Jong, 29, played with a heavily bandaged knee throughout the Netherlands' World Cup campaign. The team's journey concluded in the round of 32 after a penalty shootout loss to Morocco. Despite the visible discomfort, the extent of the ligament damage was only fully determined upon his return to Barcelona.

While the news is a setback for both club and country, De Jong expressed optimism about his recovery. "The injury was more serious than initially determined. Thankfully, at this stage there is no need for surgery, and I am now fully focused on my recovery," he posted on Instagram. Barcelona is set to begin their quest for a third consecutive LaLiga title with a match against Elche on August 23.

The absence of the influential midfielder will undoubtedly test Barcelona's depth as they aim to maintain their domestic dominance. De Jong's ability to control the midfield and his crucial role in linking defense and attack will be sorely missed in the opening weeks of the season.

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The injury was more serious than initially determined. Thankfully, at this stage there is no need for surgery, and I am now fully focused on my recovery.