Netherlands boss Koeman LASHES OUT at ex-club Barcelona over De Jong injury

Tom Weber

Updated: 11 Jun 2024 09:33 BST
3 min read

Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Koeman — © IMAGO

Frenkie de Jong has become the latest big-name star to miss out on Euro 2024 due to injury.

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The Netherlands star had been called up to Ronald Koeman's final squad for the tournament in Germany despite missing the end of the 2023/24 season with an ankle issue.

De Jong, who has been heavily criticised by pundits in his native Holland in recent weeks, insisted that he was willing to make sacrifices to feature at the Euros, but the Dutch staff has now sent the 27-year-old home.

A persistent ankle problem has been plaguing the midfielder since September and forced him to sit out more than 20 Barcelona games in the bygone campaign. After analysing the injury in the Dutch camp, it was decided that De Jong is not fit enough to feature in the upcoming weeks.

Dutch coach Ronald Koeman has now firmly placed the blame for the injury at the feet of his former employer and De Jong's current club Barcelona.

Koeman blasts Barca

Speaking to the media following the news of De Jong withdrawing from the Dutch base, Koeman said: “We have considered that Frenkie de Jong will not be fit for the next three weeks. He had a history with this injury to his right ankle and it is not advisable to take risks. His club did take risks before and now we have to pay the price.”

Just two weeks ago, De Jong insisted that his ankle problem was not yet chronic, though he did admit that he returned too early from his second spell out. “I am prepared to take certain risks for a European Championship with the Dutch team, but the most important thing for me is that it does not become a chronic ankle injury,” he told De Telegraaf.

“That is not the case yet and that is why I have not had surgery on the ankle. Yes, it is my third ankle injury this season, also on the same ankle, but there is no instability. Only the second time I may have returned too early and the injury was still in my head.”