Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has “completely lost confidence” in Frenkie de Jong after a Champions League row left the relationship between the pair badly damaged, according to a Spanish report.
The tension is said to centre on the second leg of last season’s Champions League quarter-final, when Barcelona were knocked out by Atletico Madrid.
Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, who specialises in Barcelona news, reported on Wednesday that Flick had planned to start the Netherlands international after he was given medical clearance to play – but De Jong refused, fearing the risk of aggravating his injury.
Romero claims that confrontation proved a turning point, with the German coach’s faith in the 27-year-old midfielder breaking down as a result.
Champions League clash ‘triggered breakdown’
According to Romero, Flick had earmarked De Jong as a key part of his tactical plan for the decisive second leg against Atletico.
The Dutchman had received the green light from club medics to be involved, but Romero says De Jong told the coaching staff he did not want to start in order to avoid taking what he felt was an unnecessary risk.
That disagreement, in a game Barcelona went on to lose and which saw them eliminated from Europe, is described as the moment when tensions between the pair “peaked”.
Flick, who arrived at Barcelona tasked with reshaping the team after another disappointing European campaign, is now said to have deep reservations about relying on De Jong going forward.
De Jong exploring exit options
The situation has become so strained that De Jong is actively “looking for a way out” of Barcelona, Romero adds.
The former Ajax midfielder, one of the club’s highest earners and most high-profile signings in recent years, had previously resisted attempts to move him on amid financial pressures at the Camp Nou.
But the reported collapse in his relationship with Flick, combined with uncertainty over his physical condition, has now put his long-term future at the club in serious doubt.
Should he decide to leave, De Jong would be one of the most sought-after midfielders on the market, with several top European clubs having tracked his situation in recent seasons.
Serious knee injury and surgery dilemma
De Jong is currently dealing with a significant knee injury sustained while on international duty with the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.
The Barcelona midfielder is considering undergoing surgery to address the problem, but, according to the report, is delaying a final decision while he waits to see how his club future unfolds.
Any operation could rule him out for an extended period, further complicating Barcelona’s squad planning and potential transfer negotiations.
Uncertain path for Barca and key midfielder
The reported rift with Flick comes at a delicate time for Barcelona as they attempt to rebuild a side capable of competing domestically with Real Madrid and making a deeper impact in Europe.
De Jong, once seen as a long-term cornerstone of the midfield, now faces an uncertain path, with his fitness, form, and relationship with the head coach all under scrutiny.
Barcelona have not publicly commented on the claims, and De Jong has yet to speak about his future since the end of last season.
