De Jong willing to play with a pain-killer injection vs Real Madrid today

Injured Barcelona superstar willing to play with a pain-killer injection vs Real Madrid

With only a matter of hours left before the big game, the first El Clasico of the 2023/24 season kicks off between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, question marks still persist about the availability of some of the Blaugrana players.

Reports on Friday suggested that Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha are all set to receive medical clearance to return for the game.

However, as far as Pedri, Jules Kounde, and Frenkie de Jong are concerned, it was suggested that the trio is as good as ruled out even though they made an appearance in training on Friday.

De Jong willing to play with a pain-killer injection

But, Ivan San Antonio of SPORT has now provided yet another update in which he is claiming that De Jong has accepted to play the game against Real Madrid by taking a pain-killer injection.

The Netherlands international was one of Barça’s best players this season before suffering an ankle injury in the game against Celta Vigo last month.

Initial reports had suggested that there was no way De Jong would make it in time for the first Clasico of the season.

As such, his return to training on Friday, along with the other injured players barring Sergi Roberto, came as a big surprise.

Despite that, overnight it was suggested that the feelings around De Jong’s condition were not entirely positive, casting doubts over his involvement.

Now, though, it is being suggested that the 26-year-old Dutchman would be willing to take a pain-killer injection to make himself available against Real Madrid.

Xavi keeping his cards close to his chest

Unlike in the past, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has not announced the squad list for the Real Madrid game on the eve of the match.

Instead, the Catalans are keeping their cards close to the chest and plan on unveiling the squad list much closer to the encounter.

It would give them time to assess all the injured players’ conditions again and will also create an element of doubt in the opposition camp.

As such, even though it is now being said that De Jong can take a pain-killer injection to return, only time will tell if he makes the squad list or not.