Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong gives ankle injury update with Netherlands midfielder ready to take 'risks' ahead of Euro 2024

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has faced a battle to be fit for Euro 2024 ever since he was injured against Real Madrid in April. The 27-year-old was stretchered off the pitch afer suffering a third ankle injury of the season and he has admitted he is still not match-fit, less than two weeks away from the start of Euro 2024.

De Jong told De Telegraaf: "I am prepared to take certain risks for a European Championship with the Dutch team, but the most important thing for me is that it does not become a chronic ankle injury. That is not the case yet and that is why I have not had surgery on the ankle. Yes, it is my third ankle injury this season, also on the same ankle, but there is no instability. Only the second time I may have returned too early and the injury was still in my head."

De Jong added: “We have a trajectory in mind, but it will depend on how the ankle holds up whether I will be fit in time. I still work individually, then I have to join the group and then work towards a situation in which I can get playing time,” he continued.

“That could indeed also be during the tournament. There are no hard deadlines, but there must be a prospect of participating in competitions. Otherwise there is no point in staying.”

The deadline for submitting Euro 2024 squads to UEFA is June 8, but with squad sizes expanded to 26 players for the upcoming tournament and from what De Jong has said about his recovery, head coach Ronald Koeman has included the Barcelona star in his final squad. The Netherlands kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against Poland on Sunday, June 16, before matches against France (June 21) and Austria (June 25).