​Barcelona heavyweight remains reluctant to undergo surgery despite club insistence even as recovery stagnatesTwo months after suffering his knee injury, Frenkie de Jong remains at a crossroads. FC Barcelona continue to believe surgery is the best solution, while the Dutch midfielder remains determined to exhaust every possible alternative, even though his recovery has not progressed according to plans, reports AS.De Jong suffered a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the World Cup, having exacerbated the situation by continuing to play even after the injury.De Jong chooses the non-surgical optionFrom that point, De Jong had two choices, each carrying clear advantages and risks.The first was surgery. That would mean approximately five to six months on the sidelines, but would offer the strongest possible guarantee of restoring stability to his right knee.The alternative was conservative treatment. If successful, it could allow him to return in around three months, but there would be no guarantee that the knee would regain full stability.De Jong refuses surgery. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)Despite the Barcelona medical team’s preference for surgery, De Jong opted for the conservative approach, accepting the possibility that his recovery might not be complete.After around six weeks of rehabilitation, he returned to the pitch on 25 August to test the stability of his knee and assess how it felt under greater stress.As per the report, the results were disappointing. His sensations were not positive and he was forced to stop, visibly upset by the setback.Barcelona continue to push for surgeryThat first setback prompted Barcelona to renew their efforts to convince De Jong to reconsider his decision. The club even arranged for surgeon Joan Carlos Monllau to meet with him and recommend surgery as the most appropriate course of action.De Jong, however, has remained firm in his desire to exhaust every option offered by conservative treatment before agreeing to an operation.The club’s recent decisions have also provided a clear indication of how little they expect to rely on De Jong in the short and medium term.The signing of Rodri and the decision to register Brian Farinas with the first team are both signs that the club are preparing for life without him for a significant period.De Jong returned with an injury. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)Barça are currently taking things one day at a time rather than setting a firm recovery timetable. Given the complexity of the injury and the uncertainty surrounding the treatment, they are deliberately avoiding definitive predictions.Everything points towards the international break at the end of September becoming a decisive moment in determining De Jong’s treatment plan.If he eventually opts for surgery, he would not be expected back on the pitch until April, effectively bringing his season to an end.If he continues with conservative treatment, the timetable becomes mu