According to Sport, De Jong is nearing his return, but Barcelona is not ruling out a winter transfer for him.

Barcelona acted quickly after De Jong's injury this summer, securing an uncontroversial signing: Rodri joined and immediately claimed a starting spot, meaning the Dutchman will likely be benched. Furthermore, the club's other major prospect in this position is Bernal, who will soon be promoted and have his contract renewed. In fact, the academy player has already become Rodri's deputy in the first team and is sure to get playing time this season.

The midfield is severely overstocked, which has also caused discontent among players hoping for more minutes. Fermín and Olmo are sharing playing opportunities, while Gavi hardly plays. The academy player already knew his situation after Rodri's arrival, and his prospects are not optimistic even after he fully recovers from his physical issues. Even so, Gavi will still be ahead of De Jong, as both the club and Flick himself see it that way.

Despite recurring injuries in recent seasons, De Jong has always been an indispensable starter for the German coach. Flick used him in front of the defense, which solidified his position. Barcelona even got close to him at one point. The Dutchman prioritized renewing his contract and staying, separating from his professional team to expedite the process. As a result, he extended his contract until 2029, though his salary is high and was originally set for a top-tier starter.

Barcelona was extremely unhappy with his knee injury during the World Cup, as the club believed the player might have forced himself to play or at least did not handle it cautiously. That anger still lingers. De Jong has always wanted to stay at Barcelona, but his contract situation makes him a player the club can use to generate revenue. At the end of the season, he will have two years left on his contract, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.

From now on, De Jong must fight for his place, and he knows it will be difficult to get playing time. If he hardly plays, or doesn't play at all, the Dutchman's mind might change, and the club would open the door for his departure. The most important thing now is for him to make a smooth return. The coming weeks will determine whether his role continues to diminish and what will happen in January. This is a problem.

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