Barcelona midfield star Gavi’s recovery timeline extended as knee surgery confirms serious damage | OneFootball

After making his long-awaited return from a year-long absence midway through last season, many expected FC Barcelona midfield star Gavi to enjoy a more prominent role in the 2025–26 campaign. However, the start of this new season has turned into a nightmare for the 21-year-old midfielder.

A few weeks ago, Gavi began experiencing pain and discomfort in his right knee. Initial hopes were that the issue could be resolved through conservative treatment, but when this failed to yield results, surgery became inevitable.

On Tuesday afternoon, under the supervision of Barça’s medical staff, Dr. Joan Carles Monllau performed an arthroscopy at the Hospital de Barcelona.

What was meant to be a relatively simple procedure, sidelining him for only four to five weeks, quickly turned into a much more serious setback.

According to Mundo Deportivo, once surgeons opened up the joint, they discovered the damage was worse than originally anticipated.

As a result, the medical team decided to suture the meniscus to preserve it, a decision that has significantly extended his recovery period. Instead of a brief layoff, Gavi is now expected to miss four to five months of action.

This timeline means the young midfielder will likely not return until March, right in the decisive stretch of Barcelona’s season, and only three months before the 2026 World Cup.

Importantly, this injury is unrelated to the devastating ACL tear he suffered in November 2023 while on international duty with Spain against Georgia.

That injury, which also involved damage to the lateral meniscus in the same knee, kept him sidelined for 11 months. Coincidentally, it was Dr. Monllau who oversaw that surgery as well.

The blow is particularly cruel given the circumstances. After last season’s cautious reintegration, where he still managed 42 appearances but only 20 starts, Gavi was finally able to complete a full preseason this summer.

For now, though, Gavi will once again be forced to watch from the sidelines. The news has left the midfielder and the Blaugrana fans deeply affected, but he has been buoyed by an outpouring of support from teammates and supporters alike.

However, with his trademark grit and determination, hopefully, he can channel that same energy into his recovery and return in time to make an impact for Barcelona in the final stretch of the season.