Frenkie de Jong’s agent has not reacted well to reports that the player feigned illness to miss out on Barcelona’s trip to Royal Antwerp in midweek, slamming claims as ‘fake news’ in a furious rant.
The Blaugrana were shocked by the Belgian side – competing in the Champions League for the first time in their history – after falling to a 3-2 defeat in a dramatic encounter on Wednesday night.
The hosts took the lead in under two minutes through Arthur Vermeeren, before the Catalan side equalised before the break, only for former Tottenham star Vincent Jansson to make it 2-1 to Antwerp before an electric finish.
Barca thought they had equalised in the 91st minute but the Belgian minnows went straight down the other end and restored the lead from kick-off, George Ilenikhena sealing a memorable win.
De Jong was absent for the trip that saw Xavi blood a number of younger stars in a largely inexperienced travelling squad, yet reports as to the veracity of his excuse of illness have not gone down well with his representatives, it would seem.
Frenkie de Jong was absent for Barcelona’s trip to Royal Antwerp due to a reported illness
His agent Ali Dursun has hit out at claims that his illness was feigned following the shock defeat
Catalan outlet RAC1 had suggested that the player rang Deco to inform the Barca chief of his status, but the report claims that the Portugal legend was not entirely convinced.
‘Total fake news,’ his agent Ali Dursun told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf about the claims. ‘It is the biggest nonsense that has been released around Frenkie in a long time.
‘The player is just sick. He has symptoms of fever and has been unable to travel and play. This boy is a professional through and through. Just a model professional.
‘Just don’t touch Frenkie’s reputation, because he always delivers. There was no shouting over the phone as claimed, no question marks.
‘Things are being created now in a false way. The relationship with Deco is simply good and stable.’
De Jong’s absence was perhaps more keenly felt for the weak showing of ex-Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu in the middle of the midfield three.
While Barca had already sealed top spot in the group, there was the small matter of the prize money on offer per win (£2.35million) and pride on the line.
The initial reports from RAC1 claimed that De Jong, Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and Ronald Araujo had all been omitted from the squad list, only for president Joan Laporta to intervene, the latter three all added to the team.
Manager Xavi is facing heat after two poor results in the last seven days, having also lost to Girona at the weekend
As they were then preparing to leave for Belgium, Deco is thought to have called up De Jong to question his absence, the midfielder having been kept out of the side due to ‘feverish’ symptoms, the report adds.
‘I’m told by a person very close to me that when they were taking the players to Antwerp – at the moment of catching the plane – Deco called De Jong,’ the RAC1 reporter explained on the El Mon programme.
‘And he scolded him. De Jong tells him: “I’m sick.” Deco responded and said: “What do you mean you’re sick? Has the doctor already certified that you are sick?”‘
The reporter added that Deco was unconvinced and felt it was an excuse to miss the trip, while also hinting he ‘imagines another time of coach at Barca’.
The Blaugrana have now lost two matches in a row, having been handed a bruising defeat at home to surprise package Girona in La Liga that many believe highlighted Xavi’s tactical limitations.
Deco was reportedly not convinced by De Jong’s illness, according to Catalan reports
The manager’s position at the helm had seemed at risk after the Antwerp defeat, and the legendary Spanish midfielder is thought to have lost the backing of all the club’s boardroom chiefs.
Deco had publicly laid the onus for their form at the feet of his former team-mate, despite Barca winning LaLiga last season and already making it to the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
Spanish papers were equally unimpressed with his side’s showing in the last week, with publications slamming his side as ‘fragile’ following the disappointment at Royal Antwerp.
Xavi and Co will however have a chance to hit back against Valencia on Saturday at home, with Ruben Baraja’s side struggling for form themselves down in 11th place in the league.
A young Barcelona side was beaten by Royal Antwerp despite having sealed top spot in the group
