Man Utd target Frenkie de Jong forced to MISS Euro 2024 with injury as boss angrily blasts Barcelona for ‘taking risks’
NETHERLANDS star Frenkie de Jong has been ruled out of the Euros to leave national boss Ronald Koeman furious.
The 27-year-old midfielder, a long-term transfer target for Manchester United, has suffered a number of ankle issues this term.
GettyBarcelona’s Frenkie de Jong has suffered Euro 2024 heartbreak[/caption]
RexThe midfielder has been forced to pull out of the Netherlands squad[/caption]
His last appearance came in the 3-2 El Clasico defeat at Real Madrid on April 21 but he has been battling to prove his fitness ahead of the tournament.
Dutch boss Ronald Koeman still included him in his final Euro 2024 squad despite his injury problems.
De Jong then spent last week doing individual work before attempting to join in a full session with his team-mates for the first time on Sunday.
However, after examinations yesterday by doctors, it has been deemed that he will not be ready in time for his country.
Netherlands beat Iceland 4-0 last night in the final friendly before heading to Germany as Xavi Simons, Virgil van Dijk, Donyell Malen and Wout Weghorst all got on the scoresheet.
A post on X from the national team then confirmed: “Frenkie de Jong won’t participate at Euro 2024. We are with you, Frenkie.”
De Jong then took to Instagram to post an emotional message himself, saying: “I’m sad and disappointed that I won’t make it to the European Championship.
“We’ve been doing a lot of it the past few weeks, but my ankle needs more time unfortunately.
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“It’s a dream and greatest honour to represent our country in a final tournament.
“Wearing the orange shirt, singing the Wilhelmus and feeling the support of the entire country.
“But now I will, like the entire orange legion, cheer for our team from the sidelines. Let’s go, boys.”
However, Koeman was fuming to lose one of his key players as he took aim at the medical staff at the club he both played and managed.
He said: “He was not gonna be ready in three weeks, unfortunately.
“Frenkie has a history with this injury so we have to think about his health.
“The club over there decided to take risks and this is the price we have to pay for it.”
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The star has been consistently linked with Manchester United ever since his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag took over in 2022.
Barcelona’s financial troubles have also failed to help those rumours go away as speculation regularly resurfaces that they must sell in order to avoid financial sanctions.
De Jong has played 54 times for his country, scoring twice.
Netherlands start their Euro 2024 campaign on Sunday when they play Poland in Group D.
AlamyIan Maatsen has replaced him after an impressive season on loan at Borussia Dortmund[/caption]
Koeman’s men then take on France and Austria in their next two group matches.
Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen, who spent last season loan loan at Dortmund, has been called up as a replacement.
Primarily a full-back, he can also play on the wing or in midfield.
He helped Burnley to win promotion from the Championship 12 months ago but is yet to be capped by his country at senior level.
BBC and ITV’s Euro 2024 line up in full
Here’s how each channel will line-up:
BBC presenters:
Gary Lineker, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman
ITV presenters:
Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods
BBC pundits:
Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, Ashley Williams, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Frank, David Moyes, Rachel Corsie and James McFadden
ITV pundits:
Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Ange Postecoglou, Danny Rohl and Christina Unkel
BBC commentators:
Guy Mowbray, Robyn Cowen, Vicki Sparks, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower and Jonathan Pearce
ITV commentators:
Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight
BBC co-commentators:
Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, Jermaine Jenas and James McFadden
ITV co-commentators:
Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Andros Townsend
