Javi: Barcelona pressure is greater now, but injury has made me more patient

Javi says the pressure of playing for Barcelona is far greater than it was when he broke into the first team at 17, but believes his long spell out with injury has helped him mature and manage his career more effectively.

The 22-year-old is not a guaranteed starter for Barcelona this season, although he continues to have the full confidence of manager Hansi Flick. The Andalusian midfielder remains part of Flick’s plans and is working to earn as many minutes as possible amid strong competition within the squad.

Speaking to Men’s Health, Javi reflected on how his relationship with football and pressure has changed since the beginning of his career.

“There is much more pressure now than there was when I was 17,” he said. “At that time, I did not realise where I was. The younger you are, the more you enjoy football.”

Javi has already experienced several difficult periods despite his age, including injuries that kept him out of action for long stretches. He believes those setbacks forced him to develop greater patience and helped him grow away from the pitch as well as on it.

“Perhaps I was not patient in the past, but now I am more patient,” said the Barcelona player. “When I was injured, I had to complete each stage and set goals. It was also useful for me to learn things beyond football.

“Now I can say that I take much better care of myself than I did when I started my professional career.”

Javi stresses importance of knee care

Although he has not started every match, Javi continues to pay close attention to the knee injury that kept him out for almost an entire season. He says he cannot afford to relax his approach to rehabilitation and maintenance, regardless of whether he is selected.

“My knee must always be strong, whether I play or not,” he said. “I cannot take it lightly because the injury could happen at any moment.”

Javi also highlighted the support he received from his family during his recovery.

“I isolated myself with my family, and that helped me a lot,” he said.

The midfielder reserved particular praise for Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal, insisting the teenager’s ability is even more striking in training than it is during matches.

“He is extremely talented on the pitch, but he surprises you even more in training,” Javi said. “I only hope he continues to develop. He knows his ability; he can be among the best of all time.”

Javi added that he considers Lamine Yamal’s mentality to be one of his greatest strengths.

“I see him as mentally strong, and that is the most important thing in the end,” he said. “He knows what he wants, and he still has a long footballing future ahead of him. He has to continue in this way every day, because the present is what matters most, and everyone will be watching him closely every day.”