Gavi will remember the year 2023 for a long time. Embarking on his third season with the pros of FC Barcelona, the young midfielder has to put his career on hold for very long months due to a nasty knee injury that occurred last night against Georgia (3-1°. Exited in the 25th minute, the Blaugrana should not play again for at least nine months, if we are to believe the press release published by the Catalan club.
“The player has a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee and an associated injury to the external meniscus. (…) Bad news for Barça. Tests carried out on first-team player Gavi confirmed a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and an associated injury to the external meniscus. He will undergo surgical treatment in the coming days. A new medical press release will be issued subsequently”. A press release which puts an end to ten intense months in 2023. Small flashback with the main dates of the year 2023 rich in emotions for the young Spaniard.
Ten months full of emotion
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January 15: elected MVP of the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid. A Clasico that the Blaugrana won 3-1 thanks to a goal and two assists from the young midfielder who was enjoying his second season with the first team culé.
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at the end of January : the micmac around his contract begins. His extension until 2026 had to be approved by La Liga and the player thought about leaving number 30 for number 6. Problem: Barça must present a viable economic plan to be able to register its recruits and extensions. The Gavi case is pending.
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January 31: in the process, commercial court number 10 of Barcelona issued a summary judgment “accepting the adoption of the unprecedented precautionary measure consisting of “requiring the National Professional Football League (LFP)” to provide all necessary for the player Pablo Páez ‘Gavi’ to be registered as a member of the FC Barcelona first team before the winter window closes at 00:00. Barça then thought they had finished with this matter.
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3rd of March : the start of controversies over Gavi’s behavior. In the Copa del Rey, the Blaugrana insulted Vinicius Jr as a “son of a whore”. Criticized for being in all the hot spots and accused of being protected by the referees, Gavi caused a scandal in this Clasico.
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end of March : La Liga re-registers Gavi in La Liga. Good news ? No, because the Spanish League announces that the player is regaining his youth contract. In short: Gavi resumes its number 30 and finds itself free from any contract in June 2023.
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March 27: after annoying everyone on the La Liga pitches, Gavi gets into a controversy with La Roja. After refusing to participate in an autograph session, it is the intensity put by the Catalan in training which is singled out. Gavi would be too dangerous and that’s not all. He would also have criticized his repositioning on the left wing.
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March 30: Faced with the scandal, the Gavi clan and Barça cry conspiracy and think that Real Madrid is behind it all.
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At the beginning of April : Gavi’s contractual situation attracts the first serious courtiers such as Chelsea and Manchester City. The Blues will even go so far as to start negotiations with the player’s clan.
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half April : new criticisms of his behavior and his numerous yellow cards. Gavi is the player who commits the most fouls in La Liga.
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June 6: huge relief for Barça: La Liga officially validates Gavi’s contract. The player returns to number 6 and is now linked to the Blaugranas until 2026. This is the end of the rumors regarding a departure.
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June 18: after the disappointment of the 2022 World Cup, Gavi saw his first triumph with Spain after La Roja’s victory in the Nations League final against Croatia (0-0, 5 tab 4). Unfortunately for him, this coronation will not erase the controversies.
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June 19: while Spain celebrated its coronation at the WiZink Center in Madrid, Gavi was greeted with whistles and “puta Barça”. Derised, he will make a very concise speech. “Hello, I will be brief. I wanted to thank all the Spaniards and the supporters who supported us during these two matches. Without them, this would not have been possible.”
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October 30: after an uneventful start to the season, a new event that occurred during a Clasico tarnished the image of the Barcelona player. Accused of having injured Aurélien Tchouameni (the Merengue is absent between 6 and 8 weeks after a metatarsal fracture), Gavi is publicly defended by the Frenchman on social networks. “It’s not Gavi’s fault. I was injured at the end of the first half.”.
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November 19: started against Georgia, three days after playing the entire match against Cyprus (counting for the Euro 2024 qualifiers), Gavi was injured in the 25th minute. Hit in the knee, the Spaniard leaves in tears. The RFEF later announced that it was very worried.
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November 20: FC Barcelona announces a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee and an associated injury to the external meniscus. End of season, no Euros or Olympic Games for Gavi who is not expected on the field for nine months.
