Frenkie de Jong Ruled Out of Barcelona's Clash Against Atlético Madrid

Reports indicate that Dutch international Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona's midfielder, has been ruled out of the upcoming La Liga clash against Atlético Madrid. This decision comes amid pessimism within the Catalan club regarding the player's readiness, as he is considered unavailable for the upcoming match due to his ongoing struggle with an injury that has kept him sidelined recently.

De Jong continues his rehabilitation program to recover from a biceps femoris injury in his right leg, an injury he sustained five weeks ago, specifically on February 26. German coach Hansi Flick is adopting a highly cautious strategy in managing the 28-year-old player's condition to avoid any new setbacks, especially given that the player has faced multiple muscle problems this season, leading to his absence from seven official matches so far.

Despite the possibility of De Jong participating in some group training sessions by the end of the week, Flick does not consider the player ready enough to be included in the squad for the match. Conversely, positive indications have emerged from the Barcelona camp regarding the availability of defender Jules Kounde and full-back Alejandro Balde for the encounter. The head coach believes he has alternative options in midfield to compensate for the absence of the Dutch star, who has played 31 matches this season, scoring one goal and assisting seven for his teammates.