Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong has taken to social media to explain how he suffered a knee injury after it was confirmed he will be sidelined for some time with the problem.
De Jong returned from the World Cup with the issue which has led to plenty of talk and criticism from the media about how he played through the pain barrier for the Netherlands.
The midfielder has now hit back and shared his side of the story, making it clear he does not require surgery.
“Normally, I don’t pay much attention to
what is being written about me, the team or the club. But recently, there’s been a lot of speculation about my injury and my situation at Barca,” he posted on Instagram Stories.
“It’s difficult for me to see people questioning my relationship and commitment to the club because of false reports. Football is everything to me, and I have always given everything I have for FC Barcelona and my country. That is why I want to share what happened.
“During the World Cup, I got injured on my knee. After the first assessments, the doctors told me it was a small injury and that it wouldn’t get worse if I continued playing. The only challenge was playing with some pain, but throughout my career I have done that whenever I could contribute to the team, both for my club and my country.
“In my holiday, I returned to Barcelona for further examinations. These showed that the injury was more serious than initially determined. Thankfully, at this stage there is no need for surgery, an I am now fully focused on my recovery and returning to the pitch as soon as possible.
“Every day, I work to be in the best possible shape. I take my profession, my body and my responsibility to the team extremely seriously. But somtimes there are things you cannot control, and this injury is one of them.
“Playing for Barca and Oranje is something I feel incredibly proud of, and my commitment to both will never change. I will continue to give everything for this badge, for my team-mates and our fans.
“There are still many moments to create and goals we want to achieve together. Thank you all for your support. I can’t wait to be back. Visca Barca Sempre.”
Get well soon, Frenkie!
