Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has, on Sunday night, provided an update on the wellbeing of star midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
For those who may have missed it, Dutch international De Jong set pulses racing across the Barca fanbase earlier this evening.
This came upon the former Ajax standout being forced into a premature departure from the club’s latest outing.
En route to a hard-fought 1-0 downing of Valencia, De Jong lasted just 45 minutes, before being hauled off to be replaced by Franck Kessie.
🔄 Substitution:
↑🟢 Franck Kessie
↓🔴 Frenkie de Jong
#BarçaValencia pic.twitter.com/4dXpKgrPSy— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 5, 2023
Speaking on the back of the full-time whistle at the Camp Nou, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of his midfield conductor’s fitness was put to Xavi Hernandez.
And, in a relief for all associated with the La Liga leaders, the club’s boss went on to quell fears surrounding De Jong’s wellbeing.
Adding that this came largely owing to fatigue, though, Xavi went on to assure that his decision to hook the Dutchman at the interval on Sunday came as little more than a ‘precaution’.
Xavi: “Frenkie has hamstring discomfort. He was already very tired after the match at the Bernabeu. We subbed him out as a precaution.”
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) March 5, 2023
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