Trouble at Barcelona: Flick gives De Jong a 'wake-up call'

Tom Weber

Updated: 22 Oct 2024 14:24 BST
3 min read

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick is not happy with Frenkie de Jong, according to Spanish media.

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The Dutch midfielder continues to be a hotly debated topic in Spain. LaLiga's biggest earner, De Jong has done little to justify the money cash-strapped Barcelona are paying him and injury problems have seen him more on the treatment table than the football pitch in recent months.

The 27-year-old recently made his long-awaited return from a recurring ankle problem, but trouble seems to already be brewing in Catalunya. De Jong was an unused substitute 5-1 beatdown of Sevilla at the weekend and RAC1 claims that this was not for tactical or fitness reasons.

Instead, the outlet asserts that coach Hansi Flick wanted to send a message to the Dutchman. The German supposedly saw something that he did not like and wanted to give De Jong a wake-up call by making him warm up on the sidelines for the entire second half without ever subbing him on.

It has not been revealed what exactly could have upset the coach, but Flick previously dropped his everpresent right-back Jules Kounde for being late to training and there are suggestions that he wanted to dish out a similar treatment to De Jong.

De Jong's future up in the air

It is unlikely that this will have any long-term consequences, but it won't do much to ease the tense situation surrounding the midfielder. Every transfer window, he is linked with a departure and it is difficult to imagine Barcelona turning their nose up at a suitable offer.

That said, Blaugrana chiefs have openly stated that they are in talks with De Jong over extending his contract, which currently expires in 2026. Given his injury history and potential cost, it may be difficult to find suitors for him outside of Catalunya, though Man Utd continue to be perenially linked.

It will be interesting to see how Flick utilises De Jong going forward. Prior to the Sevilla snub, he revealed that the midfielder had some 'discomfort,' but it is thought that the coach may simply not yet be fully convinced by the Dutchman.