Frenkie de Jong future in doubt as Barcelona boss Hansi Flick ‘loses faith’ in Dutch midfielder

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has “completely lost confidence” in Frenkie de Jong, with relations between the pair said to have broken down following a Champions League flashpoint and the Dutch midfielder now looking for a way out of the club, according to a Spanish report.

The tension is understood to have peaked during the second leg of last season’s Champions League quarter-final, when Barcelona were eliminated by Atletico Madrid.

Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, who specialises in Barcelona coverage, reported on Wednesday that the German manager’s trust in De Jong was shattered around that tie – and that the situation has since deteriorated to the point where the player is actively considering an exit.

Champions League row ‘tipped relationship over the edge’

Romero says Flick had planned to start De Jong in the second leg against Atletico after the Netherlands international was given medical clearance to return from injury.

However, according to the report, De Jong refused to play from the start, fearing he would be taking too big a risk with his fitness. That disagreement is said to have triggered a serious rift between coach and player.

Romero states that Flick wanted the 27-year-old on the pitch from the outset of the crucial knockout match, but De Jong’s decision to hold back in order to avoid aggravating his problem led to “a conflict between the two parties”.

Barcelona went on to exit the competition at the quarter-final stage, a defeat that heaped further pressure on the squad and intensified scrutiny of key players, including De Jong.

De Jong ‘seeking exit route’ from Barcelona

In the aftermath of the incident, Romero reports that De Jong has been exploring the possibility of leaving the Camp Nou, with his relationship with Flick now described as “extremely tense”.

The midfielder, who joined Barca from Ajax in 2019 amid huge expectations, has been repeatedly linked with moves away in recent seasons due to the club’s financial difficulties and his high salary. The latest developments could reopen speculation about a departure in the upcoming transfer window.

While the report does not name specific suitors, De Jong has long been admired by several elite European clubs, and any indication that he might be available would be likely to attract strong interest.

Serious knee injury and surgery dilemma

Complicating his situation is a significant knee injury De Jong suffered while on international duty with the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.

The Barcelona midfielder is currently weighing up whether to undergo surgery on the injury, Romero says. However, De Jong is believed to be delaying a final decision as he waits to see how events unfold regarding his future at the club.

The uncertainty over his fitness and long-term prospects at Barcelona comes at a delicate moment, with Flick reshaping the squad and the Catalan side under pressure to rebuild after another underwhelming European campaign.

For now, De Jong’s next steps – both medically and professionally – appear to hinge on whether the breakdown in trust with Flick can be repaired, or whether the Dutchman’s time in Barcelona is heading towards an abrupt conclusion.