The stands at Barca’s Montjuic stadium erupted as fans rose to their feet, applauding and chanting Gavi’s name, welcoming his return after a serious knee injury that kept him off the pitch for nearly a year.
For coach Hansi Flick, Gavi’s return feels like Barca signing a new player during an extremely tough stretch of fixtures, with many strong opponents ahead. Gavi smiled brightly, as if he had been reborn.
The 20-year-old midfielder sustained a knee injury during Spain’s match against Georgia on November 19, 2023, and had not played for Barca since their Champions League group stage match against Shakhtar Donetsk, meaning he was out for 348 days. His last La Liga appearance was on November 3, 2023, against Real Sociedad.
Flick chose not to risk starting Gavi, allowing him to gradually reintegrate. He brought Gavi on in the 83rd minute of the match against Sevilla, replacing his close friend Pedri, who even passed him the captain’s armband.
Gavi’s return was met with immense joy from the cules, with cheers of “Gavi, Gavi, Gavi…” resonating throughout the stands. Gavi had worked hard to recover earlier than expected after suffering an ACL tear and meniscus damage last November, an injury that was supposed to sideline him for a year.
After the match, Gavi shared: “The worst thing was not being able to play. I missed football so much, it drove me crazy. Those 10 minutes on the pitch were something I had waited for almost a year. I’m truly grateful to the cules and my teammates. Thank you all.”
Gavi is currently negotiating a contract extension with Barca and will need to readapt to the team’s style under new coach Flick. However, the German coach holds Gavi in high regard: “Gavi is like a quality new signing. He works hard, stays positive, and has excellent ball control.”
Before his injury, Gavi was a key player for Barca, known for his technical ability, tactical vision, and leadership. In the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, Gavi played a total of 96 matches. Last season, he featured in 15 games before his injury.
Barca hopes Gavi will quickly regain his form to be a valuable addition ahead of crucial clashes with Bayern and Real Madrid.