De Jong hits back: "I am fed up with the fake news being spread about me"

Relentless speculation regarding his latest injury setback has pushed Frenkie De Jong to breaking point. Speaking to FC Barcelona's official media channels, the Dutch midfielder admitted he is "pissed off and fed up" with reports suggesting a fractured relationship with head coach Hansi Flick.

"I am completely fed up with all of this. It is incredibly frustrating because playing football is what I love most; being sidelined makes me feel terrible. Now, a lot of fake news is being published, and I can see it is damaging my reputation and skewing how people perceive me," the Dutch international lamented.

"It does affect me; it makes me feel upset and angry. People are entitled to their opinions—if they want to say 'Frenkie is a poor player' or 'Frenkie isn't up to Barca's standard', that's their choice. I might disagree, but that is a separate issue," he added.

De Jong singled out journalist Gerard Romero for criticism: "He claimed I refused to play against Atletico in the Champions League last season. That is categorically false; of course I wanted to play, but fans get angry when they are only fed that narrative. We are living in an era where many journalists publish stories without verifying the facts," he asserted.

The midfielder was also quick to dismiss talk of a falling out with Hansi Flick: "I deny that completely. I have an excellent relationship with the manager; we speak frequently. You can ask him yourself. There were also claims that my relationship with the club had soured, which is equally untrue. I am in constant contact with the directors and the board, and I'd say my connection to the club is very strong," he clarified.

Explaining his decision to break his silence, Frenkie De Jong noted: "I feel there is a lot of noise surrounding me—so many fabrications and rumours—and it is bothering me. That is why I wanted to set the record straight. I have been here for seven years; playing for Barca has always been my dream and I still have plenty to achieve. We are fully focused on our main objectives," he highlighted.

Finally, he provided clarity on the injury he sustained around the World Cup period: "Someone landed on me and I took a knock to the knee. Initial tests picked up a minor issue, which everyone was aware of. I was told I could keep playing—that there would be some discomfort, but that it wouldn't deteriorate. They assured me the injury wouldn't get any worse. However, follow-up tests after the World Cup revealed the injury had become far more serious than when I was first assessed in the United States. It was a massive blow because nobody expected that outcome," he concluded.