- The midfielder returned to FC Barcelona action after 205 days out from his latest knee injury.
- After a warm embrace from the manager, Hansi Flick introduced Gavi 83 minutes into a 5-2 win over Sevilla.
- The Blaugrana’s “heart with legs” could earn more minutes next Sunday against Rayo Vallecano.
- Speaking to DAZN Espana, he admitted that this injury was tougher than his ACL tear in 2023.
Speaking to DAZN Espana following the completion of an emotional comeback made during the 5-2 win over Sevilla on Sunday, FC Barcelona star Gavi admitted that his latest injury was “more painful” than the last.
As was expected, the fan favourite received a standing ovation when introduced on 83 minutes by Hansi Flick, with the Spotify Camp Nou much livelier following a similar return for the Grada d’Animació and the increase to 62,000 punters in the Catalans’ spiritual home after Phase 1C was greenlit.
While his knock of less than 10 minutes was a stroll in which he completed 14 out of 16 passes, however, his road to recovery has been anything but.
“It’s been very hard, harder than the other time,” Gavi confessed to DAZN following the full time whistle.
“I’ve had a pretty bad time, to be honest. The process has been more painful and it has cost me more on a day-to-day basis,” the Andalusian added.
Gavi thanked FC Barcelona fans and Flick for their support
Gavi then indicated that he’s doing much better now that the wait is over. “The feeling at the Camp Nou, with my fans, with my teammates… I’m immensely happy,” he explained.
It was also not lost on him that his last comeback was against identical opposition in October 2024, which ReadBarcelona witnessed in Montjuic. “It was similar, also against the same opponent,” he commented regarding this.
Next up for praise was Flick, who Gavi said he was very grateful to, “because he he’s always trusted me and I’ve always noticed it”.
“Despite the two injuries he he’s trusted me. I’m very happy with him and I hope he’ll be here for many years.”
Think Gavi will change? Think again
Despite the nature of his injury, Gavi vowed to stick to the same fearless and aggressive style which saw him become a teenage star at FC Barcelona after graduating from La Masia in the post-pandemic era.
“I’m always going to be the same. I’ve been like this since I was born. It’s my way of competing. I always gave everything for this club and that’s how I’m going to do it every day,” Gavi declared.
Gavi still has surgical precision
In today’s win, Gavi showed that his knee is ready and how his reading of the game has reached a new level of sophistication. The Andalusian put in a flawless performance, recording an 88% pass completion rate (14/16).
This statistic is vital: following a long-term injury, players often appear erratic. Gavi however performed with a composure and judgement that confirms something already explained this weekend regarding the team’s tactical evolution – the number ‘6’ is no longer just the driving force behind the press, but the linchpin of the midfield.
The most encouraging aspect of this return is not just that pass success rate, but also the player’s transformation. In my opinion, those ‘difficult months’ will give him a tactical maturity that his own impetuosity previously prevented him from developing.
In Gavi, Flick has stumbled across his most strategic ‘signing’ as we head into the business end of the season. He’s a leader who brings aggression to the tackle but while, on the ball, maintains a composure unusual for his age.
Barça are welcoming back a playmaker who learnt to read the game from a young age, who oozes La Masia ‘DNA’.
