De Jong boost leaves Barcelona’s Getafe options unresolved
Barcelona’s preparations for Saturday’s meeting with Getafe brought a welcome step forward in Frenkie de Jong’s recovery, but the squad’s availability concerns are not yet resolved. The midfielder joined part of Tuesday’s group session, while Joan García and Raphinha continued to train away from their teammates, with three sessions remaining before the match.
De Jong’s involvement marked progress, but the report did not say that he had completed a full team session or was ready to return to competition.
The Dutch midfielder had been out for more than two months after tearing a medial ligament in his knee during the World Cup. He chose conservative treatment rather than surgery, and taking part in a portion of training represents a significant milestone in his recovery. Barcelona have not yet established when he can rejoin the group fully or play again; the latest progress in De Jong’s recovery therefore does not confirm his availability against Getafe.
García also remained apart from the group as he continued his recovery from right-knee discomfort. The goalkeeper missed Barcelona’s previous league match against Sevilla, and the issue also kept him out of his international commitments. He had not yet returned to collective work, leaving his status for the weekend unresolved. His ongoing knee recovery remains a separate concern for the coaching staff.
Raphinha likewise did not train with his teammates after returning early from Brazil duty with edema in the back of his right thigh. The report said Barcelona were taking a cautious approach, in part because the winger has experienced problems in that area before. His recovery from the thigh issue will need to progress before he can rejoin the group.
For now, De Jong’s partial participation is a positive development rather than confirmation of a selection option. The report stressed that he still needed time before returning fully to training and becoming fit to compete, while García and Raphinha remained outside the group. With three training sessions left before Getafe, the available evidence did not settle whether any of the three would be ready for Saturday.
Hansi Flick brought six Barcelona Atlètic and youth players into the session: Max Bonfill, Baba Kourouma, Jordi Pesquer, Hamza, Shane Kluivert and Oscar Gistau. Karim Adeyemi also returned to the Ciutat Esportiva after receiving an extra day of rest, and the coaching staff expected the remaining internationals to return over the following two days.
