Frenkie de Jong has no return date and, for now, continues to train separately from his teammates. The Dutch midfielder remains one of Barcelona's major uncertainties.

De Jong has yet to fully recover from the right ankle sprain he suffered last season, which also kept him out of the European Championship with the Netherlands.

Despite initial optimism from Hansi Flick about his recovery, the midfielder has not resumed on-field training, and his return remains uncertain.

“I hope he won’t need surgery. He is making progress in his recovery and has taken a significant step forward, but we need to keep waiting. He is training well, though not at 100%, and we’ll assess him day by day,” Flick said in the press conference before the match against Real Valladolid.

Division of Opinions at the Club

Within the club, there is a split opinion on whether De Jong should undergo surgery to resolve his issue permanently, although he is currently continuing with conservative treatment.

The situation concerning the Dutchman is a concern for the club, as he is a key pillar of the team, and his prolonged absence is causing some anxiety among the coaching staff.

For now, the club will have to continue waiting for clarity on his return. Fortunately for Barcelona, his absence has not been heavily felt on the field, allowing him the time he needs to recover without rushing.