He had only missed two games this season with Barcelona and both due to suspension. His loss for the remainder of the season will be a doubt and the financial consolation will surely not satisfy anyone at Can Barça. Of course, in the winter market the club will be able to strengthen itself. Vitor Roque is waiting in Brazil and perhaps the arrival of another interior will be attempted.
There are two almost consecutive plays that have a strong impact on Gavi’s right knee. In the first, Lochoshvili fouls him and his joint gets stuck. The Blaugrana is treated and returns to the game. Three minutes later he jumps for a ball and his knee fails when he puts it on. Coach Luis de la Fuente insists that the second action is what caused the injury. However, some doctors suggest that the footballer may have already broken in the first one.
Barcelona will communicate the time he will be out after the surgery. But Gavi will be in dry dock for almost eight months. That means that his season is over, with the four titles still to be played for.
This was Gavi’s third season in the elite and he had only missed ten games. None due to injury. Eight had been due to sanctions – expulsions or accumulation of cards – and two for being infected with the coronavirus. Shortly before debuting, in August 2021, he suffered a broken jaw.
FIFA has a protection program for clubs in the event that a player is injured with his team for more than 28 days. From that date, a maximum compensation of 20,548 euros per day for up to one year (7.5 million in total) is set. The calculation is made depending on the salary of the affected person. Gavi, after his renewal, has a high contract, so the compensation will exceed three million for seven months.
As it is a long-term injury, there is the possibility of canceling Gavi’s record to replace him with a signing, regardless of whether the club has exceeded fair play. In the winter market, Barça will be able to allocate 80% of Gavi’s salary costs to strengthening itself. The registration of Brazilian forward Vitor Roque, already signed, can enter there, although it will be necessary to see if the coaching staff prefers to ask for another midfielder.
