21-year-old Barcelona star escapes surgery despite meniscus damage | OneFootball

Gavi has been one of the most exciting La Masia graduates to establish himself in the first team of FC Barcelona. Yet his young career has already been overshadowed by a serious right knee injury that kept him sidelined for almost a year.

The 21-year-old midfielder recovered from an ACL tear and external meniscus damage suffered in November 2023 while on international duty with Spain. After returning last October, he was carefully reintroduced into the squad and featured in Barcelona’s opening matches of the new season.

However, discomfort in the same knee forced him to sit out the recent clash against Rayo Vallecano and also withdraw from Spain’s squad for the September internationals. Initial fears pointed to surgery as the only way forward, but according to SPORT, Gavi has avoided the operating table for now.

Medical examinations confirmed that his ACL is intact and in perfect condition. The issue, however, concerns the internal meniscus rather than the external one that was previously damaged. Doctors consider this a lesser evil, since complications with the external meniscus could have been far more serious.

After thorough consultation, both the medical staff and Gavi have agreed to pursue conservative treatment instead of undergoing an arthroscopy. While surgery was strongly considered, the club hopes this path will allow him to overcome the pain without a lengthy absence.

The midfielder had been playing through discomfort before deciding to stop and fully assess the situation. He is now ruled out of Barcelona’s upcoming match against Valencia, and his recovery progress will determine his availability for the Champions League group stage and La Liga’s crucial early fixtures.

For Hansi Flick, Gavi’s absence is a setback, but there are alternatives in midfield. Pedri remains a guaranteed starter, while Marc Casado is ready to step up if needed, as Frenkie de Jong is also currently sidelined. The priority, however, is ensuring that Gavi makes a complete and sustainable recovery rather than rushing back.

Barcelona now face the challenge of managing the delicate case of Gavi, balancing medical caution with competitive demands. For Gavi, avoiding surgery is a relief, but the coming weeks will be decisive in determining whether his conservative treatment can truly put the pain behind him.