Frenkie de Jong
BARReturns to training Wednesday
de Jong (undisclosed) returned to normal training Wednesday alongside the rest of the squad, with his availability for Saturday's clash against Valencia at Mestalla still to be determined, according Sergi Capdevila of Sport daily.
Analysis: de Jong's return to full training is an encouraging development after his recent absence had raised doubts over his involvement in the final fixture of Barcelona's season. The coaching staff will assess whether to include him in the starting lineup at Mestalla, with the World Cup with the Netherlands approaching in June adding an element of caution to any decision on his workload. No final call has been made on his availability for Saturday.
Ruled out against Betis
de Jong (undisclosed) was absent from Saturday's training session and is ruled out Sunday's clash against Real Betis, according to coach Hansi Flick. "Frenkie is out."
Analysis: de Jong had already been left out of the squad for Wednesday's fixture against Alaves without explanation, and his continued absence from training is a concern heading into the weekend. The club has not provided any details on the nature of the issue, and coach Hansi Flick made a decision to not include him to the squad for Sunday's fixture with Barcelona looking to close out a historic unbeaten La Liga season at the Spotify Camp Nou. The absolute priority for the Dutch midfielder is to be fit for the World Cup, therefore the club doesn't take any risks with him.
Unavailable against Alaves
de Jong (undisclosed) was not included in the squad for Wednesday's clash against Alaves, with no official reason provided, though the absence could be rest-related given the stage of the season, according to the club.
Analysis: de Jong's omission from the matchday squad is worth monitoring, though the timing of the absence in the final weeks of the campaign suggests this may be a precautionary decision by coach Hansi Flick rather than a significant fitness concern. No further details have been provided on the nature of the issue, leaving his availability for upcoming fixtures uncertain until the club provides clarification.
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