- Midfielder tore ACL
- Youngster set for surgery
- Huge blow for club and country
Barcelona midfielder Gavi, 19, is set to undergo surgery after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while on international duty with Spain. The young talent left the field in tears during Sunday’s match, landing awkwardly as he jumped to control the ball.
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Barcelona confirm surgery
Barcelona has confirmed that Gavi will undergo surgery on his right ACL, and further updates on his injury are expected in the coming days. The severity of the injury raises concerns about his availability for the remainder of the current season, and his participation in Euro 2024 and the Summer Games in Paris is now in doubt.
The Catalan club announced the “complete tear of the ACL” on Monday, a condition that typically requires a recovery period of eight to 10 months. Gavi, who has played 111 games for Barcelona with seven goals and 12 assists, has also made 27 appearances for the Spain national team, scoring five goals.
The injury occurred during Spain’s 3-1 victory over Georgia in Valladolid, and Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, described it as the “most bitter victory I have experienced in my life” due to the unfortunate incident that forced Gavi off the pitch after just 26 minutes.
Gavi played a crucial role in helping Barcelona secure the league title and the Spanish Super Cup last season, making his absence a significant blow for both club and country.
Betting Implications
Barcelona currently sit third in La Liga behind surprise leaders Girona and second placed Real Madrid. At the time of writing bet365 make Madrid favourites at 4/7 with Barcelona second favourites at 9/4 ahead of Atletico Madrid, 9/1 and Girona 20/1. While Barcelona have other top quality midfielders, Gavi will be a huge miss from them and bettors need to assess how it will affect their chances. Their current financial situation means that bringing in a quality replacement, even an older player as a stop-gap, is hugely complicated.
The Catalan club are considered to be an outsider for the Champions League, 16/1 with bet365. This price may well lengthen due to Gavi’s absence. Spain are currently fourth favourites with the bookies to win Euro 2024. Gavi will almost certainly play no part in the Finals. Again the impact of his unavailability needs to be assessed
