Barcelona midfielder’s World Cup hopes still alive despite injury-hit season | OneFootball

Barcelona midfielder Gavi spent 203 days out through injury this season after he was forced to undergo surgery on his knee for a second time.

Recovering from the second setback, as explained by the player himself, was far more difficult than the first time around, but he fought through the adversity to ensure he sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

Eventually, he returned in Barcelona’s game against Sevilla last month and was even handed the captain’s armband on the night as a welcome back to the field. His return to the dynamics, however, will be a gradual and carefully planned operation.

Big news for Flick

As relayed by Diario AS in a recent report, Gavi’s return to the dynamics marks a radical moment in the season for Hansi Flick, not because he will immediately return as a game-changer but because he adds rotational depth to the department, which is critical.

At a point in the season where the games are set to come hard and fast, Gavi’s return adds competition to the midfield, which is currently dominated by Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez, Marc Casado and Marc Bernal.

Gavi has returned at the perfect time. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

It also hands Flick more options to rotate and tweak his squad during games, especially given how injuries have to be planned for.

Gavi does not feel inferior to any player and will fight with his heart and soul to see some minutes.

Further, the report adds that it is not completely ruled out that in the coming two months, buy Gavi a place on the Spanish NT squad for the FIFA World Cup.

While unlikely, it is not impossible, given how highly the national team manager rates Gavi.

In any case, however, it is clear that no risks will be taken with the player and that Hansi Flick will exert care and patience over his return. After all, it is his long-term fitness that is of concern to Barcelona.