Gavi’s early exit raises fresh concern over previous knee injury

Barcelona midfielder Gavi was forced to leave the match against Elche before half-time after appearing to hurt his right knee, prompting renewed concern because it is the same knee in which he suffered a serious injury in November 2023.

Gavi went down during the first half and immediately asked to be substituted. He remained seated on the pitch in the 44th minute, removed his shin pads and placed a hand on his right knee before indicating that he could not continue.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick responded by sending on Pedri in his place, just a few minutes before the interval.

The manner of Gavi’s departure increased the anxiety surrounding the incident. The area troubling him was the right knee affected by his previous injury, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament as well as damage to the lateral meniscus.

Barcelona have not yet established the nature or seriousness of the latest problem. The club is therefore treating the situation with particular caution, given Gavi’s medical history and the significance of the injury he sustained in 2023.

No conclusions have been reached about how long the midfielder might be unavailable. Barcelona are avoiding any premature assessment while they wait for further information from medical examinations.

Gavi is expected to undergo tests to determine the extent of the injury and whether there is any significant damage to the knee. Those checks will establish whether the problem is temporary or could result in another lengthy absence.

His early substitution means Barcelona must now wait for the medical findings before understanding the full impact of the incident. The immediate concern inside the club centres not only on the injury itself, but also on the fact that it occurred in the same knee that previously required a lengthy recovery.

Gavi’s earlier injury, suffered in November 2023, involved both the anterior cruciate ligament and the lateral meniscus. That history makes the latest complaint particularly sensitive, although the club has yet to confirm any connection between the two incidents.

For now, the only clear development is that Gavi could not complete the first half against Elche and had to be replaced by Pedri. Barcelona will monitor his condition closely before deciding on the next steps.