Gavi’s Latest Setback Will Be Test Both Physical and Mental | OneFootball

As Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde near their returns, potentially in time for PSG, Barcelona received bad news about Gavi that feels a bit like the worst news. After a conservative treatment approach that was supposed to keep him for four weeks, the 21-year-old midfielder underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to treat a medial meniscus injury. The procedure was successful, which means that his recovery is expected to take around five months.

Gavi’s Rough Road

This obviously isn’t Gavi’s first battle back from a serious knee operation. He was out for almost a year after the torn ACL in 2023, and like this preseason, he was the best player on the field at times for FC Barcelona prior to going down. Last season was the expected return to fitness for him, with most of his time on the field clearly being used to regain his rhythm, with the occasional moment of Gavi brilliance sprinkled in. Then during the preseason trip to Japan and South Korea, the midfielder truly looked like himself again. He was that terrific balance of physical menace and technical virtuoso, plus a return to form in front of goal. Which makes the discomfort he felt last month in training that much more devastating. After close to 22 months, Gavi looked like himself, only for it to be taken away again.

Some Good News

The timetable may be frustrating, but the good news is that Gavi may have avoided worse issues down the road. The conservative treatment, along with rest and rehabilitation, that the club was using didn’t take. As he tried to ramp up the intensity, the medical staff determined that surgery was going to be the best path forward. The surgeons discovered during the arthroscopy that the meniscus damage was more serious than they had seen on the imaging. They were able to suture (repair) the meniscus instead of removing tissue. This is almost the opposite of what happened with Ansu Fati, when the tissue was removed due to the damage.

A suture requires a longer rehabilitation, but the hope is that he will be able to fully recover and not deal with the drawbacks of removing tissue. The support from teammates past and present, including Lamine Yamal, Marc Bernal, and Ansu Fati was good to see. An image also surfaced with Ronald Araujo, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal visiting Gavi in the hospital. Hansi Flick also spoke about the optimism he had about Gavi’s eventual return to full fitness, as long as it takes.

What Barça Will Miss

Without Gavi for the next five months, Hansi Flick will need to navigate the European league phase and more than half of the La Liga season without him. Of course his dynamism, pressing, ability to drive into space, and personality on the field will all be missed. Marc Casado will be the one needed to fill those minutes the most, as Marc Bernal is also not ready to take on too many minutes. Without downplaying his skills, the greatest loss of Gavi on the field is that energy that he brings. As much as people focus on tactics, Gavi gives Barcelona an edge that they tend to miss without him. Plus, the lack of Pablo Páez Gavira will put Barcelona one injury away from a major issue and two away from catastrophe.

The duo of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong against Newcastle showed the potential of a midfield pairing that could win everything in front of them this season, but an extended injury to either of the two would be too much for Hansi Flick to deal with. Even Guille Fernandez is recovering from an injury for the next month, so even the end of the bench options are a concern at the moment. The most likely candidate to back-up the double pivot is Eric Garcia, though he’s already preoccupied with backing up Jules Kounde at right-back, the centre-back spots, and most recently at left-back.

Mental and Physical

The focus has been on the physical side of his absence, but this second major injury layoff will be as much or more mental than physical. His dream of participating in the next World Cup is now all but dead, and any effect he will have this season will likely come from the sideline.

Yet, if there is one player with the drive and perseverance to get back to his fighting best, it’s Gavi. He shared on social media:

“Those of you who know me know that I will come back whenever it takes to defend Barça and mine until the end. A true champion is not forged in the moments of success, but in those in which he rises after falling. Thank you all for the messages of encouragement and love!”