The powers that be at La Liga giants Barcelona have been left nothing short of baffled by the recent behaviour of a leading member of the club’s midfield.
That’s according to Diario AS, who point towards Frenkie de Jong as the player in question.
Dutchman De Jong is for his part of course sidelined at present, owing to an ankle injury picked up all the way back in April.
The initial expectation was that the 27-year-old would be back fully fit and firing by now, to be at the disposal of new head coach Hansi Flick.
This, however, has since proven to be far from the case.
Instead, De Jong remains on the treatment table, looking no closer to taking his place back on the pitch.
And, evidently, as much has not gone down at all well with those behind the scenes in Catalunya’s capital…
Amid the insinuation that the player himself is not giving it his all in efforts to return to fitness, the aforementioned Diario AS report that:
‘The club has internally acknowledged its bewilderment at the Dutchman’s attitude, which seems to be going at a different pace than the rest of his teammates. And as a clear example they point to Pedri, who has recovered in record time from a grade two sprain in his left knee.’
De Jong maintains the support of boss Flick, but patience amongst those in the boardroom at Barcelona appears to be wearing increasingly thin.
Conor Laird | GSFN
