Flick confident Frankie will be key for Barca sunlit1688

sunlit1688 Hansi Flick believes Frenkie de Jong will become a key player for Barcelona if the Dutch midfielder recovers from injury. sunlit1688

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is confident that Frenkie de Jong will be a key player for the Blaugrana despite the 27-year-old midfielder missing the pre-season tour of the United States with an ankle problem, Mundo Deportivo reported on Thursday. ( sunlit1688 )

‘Frenkie is a fantastic player, he has shown that, he is recovering well and following the plan. I hope to have him in the group and we will see,’ Flick said of the Dutch midfielder. 

Meanwhile, Flick admitted he was disappointed not to have Ronald Araujo out for the next four months after the 25-year-old defender underwent surgery on a hamstring injury in Finland.

‘Whenever a player of this quality gets injured it’s not good for the coach or the club but you have to accept it. He’s had surgery and now the recovery will start. I hope he’ll be back as soon as possible. He brings stability to the defence that we need but we’ll see how we cope without him.’

The German coach also mentioned Pablo Martin Paez Gavira Gavi, a 19-year-old midfielder who is in the process of recovering from a serious injury at the end of last year. 

‘Gabi is always on fire when he’s on the pitch. He wants to come back quickly but he has to be patient. We’ll give him the time he needs and I hope he can spend 14 or 15 years playing for this team. He’s shown everything he can give this club.’

Asked about former Barcelona captain Sergi Roberto, whose contract ends this summer, Flick said: ‘He is not a Barcelona player at the moment.’