Barcelona Captain De Jong Out One Month

Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong is set for an extended spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, keeping him out for at least one month. The Netherlands international sustained the injury during training for the upcoming La Liga match against Villarreal.

If initial tests confirm a muscle tear, De Jong could miss up to seven matches across all competitions, including the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, the Champions League Round of 16 tie, and several La Liga fixtures. The injury comes as Barcelona had just regained a nearly full squad, with De Jong's absence creating a significant gap in midfield just as Pedri had returned to action.