Barcelona midfielder Gavi is ready for a prolonged spell on the sidelines after struggling an anterior cruciate ligament harm in Spain‘s 3-1 Euro 2024 qualifying win towards Georgia on Sunday, varied sources have advised ESPN.
A Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF) spokesperson confirmed they’ve already transmitted the analysis to Barça, who will perform their very own checks on Gavi’s proper knee Monday.
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Spain coach Luis de la Fuente made 9 adjustments to the La Roja facet that beat Cyprus final Friday, with Gavi one in all simply two gamers, together with Actual Sociedad‘s Robin Le Normand, to maintain their place.
Nevertheless, he was pressured off halfway by the primary half after touchdown awkwardly when controlling the ball moments after a collision with Georgia’s Luka Lochoshvili, which was unrelated to the harm.
Gavi, 19, was capable of limp off the pitch with Spain’s medical employees, however the expression on his face urged he feared the worst.
“It appears to be like prefer it’s a critical harm,” De la Fuente advised reporters after the sport. “He’s actually anxious. It is probably the most bitter victory I’ve ever skilled in my life.
“We’re ready for the definitive checks. He’ll go to Barcelona now with [Spain sporting director] Albert Luque for additional checks. We’re destroyed. It is as if we’ve misplaced the sport.”
He added: “Gavi is damaged, destroyed … he did not assume these items may occur to him. After they haven’t occurred to you earlier than, you possibly can assume you are not susceptible, however we’re very fragile. After all he’s unhappy, we’re all damaged. There isn’t any rationalization aside from these items occur in life.
“Sure, the hardest day on this sport for me, probably the most bitter.”
The Spain gamers additionally appeared conscious of the extent of the harm, with Barça teammate Ferran Torres celebrating his objective, which made it 2-1, by holding up Gavi’s No. 9 shirt.
“It was an necessary win to finish the qualifying section effectively, however it’s a bittersweet feeling as a result of harm to Gavi,” Torres stated.
“Hopefully he can recuperate as quickly as potential. We do not know extent of the harm, we should see within the coming days, however realizing Gavi, what a warrior he’s, we expect it might be critical.”
Gavi has been an everyday for Barça and Spain this season, lacking solely two video games — each for his membership — by suspension.
However De la Fuente refuted ideas that the harm was a results of Gavi enjoying too many video games.
“It is an accident, it is unhealthy luck. It would not have something to do with the buildup of video games,” he stated.
“He was in good situation. He hasn’t performed earlier than the worldwide break as a result of he was suspended. He was contemporary and in nice form. There was no downside.”
Gavi’s significance for Xavi Hernández’s Spanish champions has grown as a consequence of long-term accidents to Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, with the coach calling him the “coronary heart and soul of the workforce.”
Pedri returned to motion simply earlier than the worldwide break after two months out, whereas De Jong is in line to make his comeback towards Rayo Vallecano this weekend.
Barça then face FC Porto, Atlético Madrid and shock LaLiga leaders Girona at dwelling in three probably season-defining video games.
Spain had already booked their place at subsequent summer time’s Euro 2024 finals in Germany previous to Sunday’s match towards Georgia, however nonetheless ended their qualifying marketing campaign with a win on the José Zorrilla Stadium in Valladolid.
Le Normand gave them a fourth-minute lead just for Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to attract the guests degree simply six minutes later.
Torres restored Spain’s lead within the fifty fifth minute and Lochoshvili accomplished the scoring, heading teenager Lamine Yamal‘s cross into his personal web with just below 20 minutes remaining.