Gavi set to miss Barcelona duty
Barcelona’s star midfielder Gavi is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury while on duty with Spain. Gavi was spotted teary-eyed as he limped off the field just before the half-hour mark in a European Championship qualifier against Georgia.
The Blaugrana outfit revealed the full diagnosis of the star’s injury and the official report has identified an ACL tear. The official report reads like this:
"Tests carried out on Monday morning on the first team player Gavi have shown that he has a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and an associated injury to the lateral meniscus. The player will have surgery in the coming days after which a new medical update will be released."
This could well mean that the Catalans could be without the services of their star midfielder for the rest of the season considering most ACL injuries take up to eight months to heal.
Barcelona could face a tough situation with Gavi’s absence, given his pivotal role in the Catalan midfield. The Spaniard has been one of the key members this term as he has notched a goal and an assist in the ongoing league campaign.
With the winter transfer window set to open on the first day of the New Year, Xavi might be inclined to look for a short-term replacement for Gavi. At this point, the Barcelona manager hasn’t hinted at the club’s interest in seeking a replacement. This could be a tricky phase for the club.
Currently sitting third in La Liga, Barcelona faces crucial matchups in December, squaring off against Atletico de Madrid and Girona in the first half of the month.