Barcelona are reportedly considering strengthening their midfield after Frenkie de Jong was confirmed to have suffered a serious knee injury.
The situation has fueled speculation that the LaLiga champions have added Manchester City midfielder Rodri to their shortlist for the summer transfer window.
De Jong sustained a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear in his right knee while representing the Netherlands at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Medical examinations conducted by Barcelona confirmed that the 29-year-old midfielder will face a lengthy spell on the sidelines, although surgery is not currently required.
Despite already having several midfield options—including Pedri, Gavi, Marc Casadó, Fermín López, and Eric García—Barcelona are reportedly exploring additional reinforcements to cover De Jong’s absence.
According to a report by Transfermarkt, Rodri has now emerged as one of the players being considered by the Catalan club.
The Manchester City midfielder enjoyed an outstanding 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping Spain lift the trophy while also winning the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player.
Rodri had previously been more strongly linked with Real Madrid.
However, no concrete move toward a transfer to the Santiago Bernabéu has materialized.
Even so, Barcelona are expected to face significant challenges if they pursue the 30-year-old midfielder.
In addition to competition from other clubs, Blaugrana continue to struggle with the financial constraints that have hindered their ability to sign high-profile players in recent seasons.
Frenkie de Jong Denies Commitment Allegations
Amid news of his injury, reports also emerged claiming that Barcelona were disappointed because De Jong had allegedly prioritized playing for the national team over protecting his physical condition.
Responding to the rumors, De Jong insisted that he had never placed the interests of the Netherlands above those of Barcelona.
He explained that the Dutch national team’s medical staff had initially determined that his injury was not serious, allowing him to continue playing.
“It’s difficult for me to see people questioning my relationship with and commitment to the club because of reports that are simply not true,” De Jong told ESPN.
He added that when he suffered the injury during the World Cup, the Netherlands’ medical team believed it was only a minor knee issue that would not worsen if he continued to play.
“The only challenge was playing through the pain. Throughout my career, I’ve always done that whenever I could still help the team, whether at club level or with the national team,” he said.
However, after returning to Barcelona and undergoing further medical examinations, doctors determined that the injury was more serious than initially believed.
“Thankfully, I don’t need surgery at the moment. My focus now is on recovery and getting back on the pitch as soon as possible,” De Jong said.***
