Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has publicly pushed back against what he called false narratives surrounding his current knee injury and his relationship with manager Hansi Flick. The 29-year-old, who is sidelined with a torn ligament in his knee, said he has a good relationship with Flick and dismissed suggestions of any rift between the two.
De Jong also accused journalist Gerard Romero of spreading misinformation, specifically the claim that he refused to play against Atlético Madrid in last year's Champions League. He said he is angry and frustrated by the falsehoods damaging his image and that he can no longer ignore them.
The Dutch international explained that his injury occurred during a collision with Quinten Timber at the World Cup, and that scans after returning to Barcelona revealed a more serious problem than initial tests had indicated. De Jong remains under contract with Barcelona until summer 2029.