Barcelona director reprimanded midfield superstar over absence for Antwerp clash – report

In a surprise revelation, journalist Marius Carol on El Mon on RAC1 (h/t SPORT) has claimed that Barcelona director Deco lashed out at midfield superstar Frenkie de Jong over his absence for last night’s game against Royal Antwerp.

Barça succumbed to a shock 3-2 defeat against the Belgian champions on Wednesday in their final group-stage fixture of the UCL.

Why was De Jong unavailable?

Xavi opted to rotate his troops heavily last night, giving rest to some of his first-team regulars. One of the most notable absentees was midfield superstar Frenkie de Jong.

The Dutchman did not even travel with the rest of the squad to Belgium after being excluded from the squad list by Xavi.

De Jong was one of four regulars dropped from the squad list initially on Monday but the manager added Ilkay Gundogan, Robert Lewandowski, and Ronald Araujo for the trip on Tuesday.

The Dutchman, though, was left behind as he was reportedly suffering from fever.

Deco questions De Jong’s absence

Now, though, it has emerged that Barcelona director Deco had a heated argument with Frenkie de Jong on the phone before the team flew to Belgium for their game.

Journalist Marius Carol is reporting that a person close to the team informed him that Deco had a strong exchange with the midfielder, questioning his absence for the Antwerp clash.

As per the report, Deco scolded De Jong for not making the trip, to which the midfielder responded that he is sick.

In response, the director is understood to have lashed out, saying: “What do you mean, you’re ill, the doctor has certified it?”

Deco allegedly did not believe that De Jong was sick and thinks it was an excuse, adds Carol.

If true, this is certainly a worrying development for Barcelona, who appear to be heading into a full-blown crisis mode after recent results.