De Jong targets October return as Barcelona wait for his knee to respond

Frenkie de Jong is aiming to resume team training with FC Barcelona following the October international break. According to “Mundo Deportivo”, the Dutch midfielder has identified October 8 as a provisional date for rejoining the group. It is not an official comeback date, nor does it guarantee his immediate return to competitive action.

Barcelona therefore have a target to work towards, but De Jong’s knee will make the final decision. For all the optimism surrounding October, several important stages of his rehabilitation still remain.

OCTOBER 8 IS A TARGET, NOT A GUARANTEE

De Jong is recovering from damage to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, reportedly sustained during the World Cup. “Mundo Deportivo” says he chose conservative treatment even though Barcelona’s medical staff considered surgery the preferable route.

The midfielder plans to use the international break, beginning on September 21, to complete the next phase of that treatment. His intention is to train with the squad again from October 8, when Barcelona’s internationals are expected to return.

That plan depends entirely on his knee responding without pain or further complications. Even if De Jong rejoins the group on schedule, he will still need to rebuild match fitness before becoming available for selection.

RUNNING WORK HAS BEGUN

The report states that De Jong is currently performing straight-line running exercises on the training pitch. He is not yet working with the ball or taking part in drills involving opponents.

That leaves a considerable gap between his present workload and the demands of an elite match. Barcelona may have placed a date on the calendar, but rehabilitation does not become complete simply because the communications cycle would welcome a positive headline.

TWO REPORTS, TWO VERY DIFFERENT TIMELINES

The outlook offered by “Mundo Deportivo” is significantly more optimistic than the version published by “AS” two days earlier. The Madrid-based newspaper reported that a knee-stability test on August 25 had produced disappointing results and that Barcelona’s doctors were continuing to recommend surgery.

“AS” suggested that persisting with conservative treatment could delay De Jong’s return until November at the earliest. Surgery, meanwhile, would reportedly require a much longer absence. Neither scenario has been announced as an official timetable by the club.

The contrast is striking: one report points towards group training in October, while another describes an uncertain rehabilitation with no immediate solution. Barcelona, meanwhile, have not publicly fixed a comeback date.

A DIFFICULT RUN AWAITS BARCELONA

Rejoining training would only be the first step. Barcelona’s schedule after the international break is expected to include matches against Getafe, Galatasaray, Real Betis, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Hansi Flick will need players capable of handling full intensity, not merely completing part of a session.

For now, October should be treated as a checkpoint rather than a promised return. De Jong’s recovery must take priority over an attractive timeline, especially when the available reports offer such different assessments of his condition.