Barcelona have gone to the market to search for a new central midfielder after Frenkie de Jong was ruled out long-term with an MCL tear sustained during the World Cup, according to transfer expert Matteo Moretto. The Dutch international will miss a significant spell, leaving Hansi Flick short in the middle of the park as the new LaLiga season approaches.
The injury alone would be enough to trigger a reassessment of Barcelona's midfield resources, but de Jong's relationship with Flick has also grown strained following several incidents in recent months. That context matters: even before the ligament damage was confirmed, there were already questions about what role, if any, de Jong would play in Flick's plans going forward.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong during a match.
The combination of a long-term absence and a fractured working relationship means Barcelona may not simply be filling a gap until he recovers – they could be planning for a more permanent realignment of the midfield.
Marc Casadó could be an in-house option to earn more minutes, but he does not appear to be part of Flick's plans either. Separate reports indicate that Barcelona have set a new asking price for Casadó and that the club has been told to listen to offers for him – hardly the sign of a player being earmarked as a stop-gap replacement.

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