We've waited a long time for this. And nobody more so than Gavi. Hansi Flick has named him in the squad that faces Sevilla this Sunday at Montjuïc. The young midfielder injured his knee while playing for Spain on 19 November 2023, and 336 days later - after the best part of a year - he is finally back available for the Club.
The player's cruciate ligament tore completely while playing a Euro 24 qualification game against Georgia, and he also injured his internal meniscus. He hasn't played a game since.
He has been through long, hard months of sweat and effort at the Ciutat Esportiva, and was only able to watch from the stands at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. But he is back 348 days after his last appearance for the club on 7 November 2023 against Shakhtar Donetsk. Gavi has missed 47 games, during which his team has amassed a win rate of 68.10%.
Sevilla is a fitting opponent for his comeback, because not only is Gavi an Andalusian himself, it was precisely against them that he scored in a 2-0 win two years ago at Spotify Camp Nou. The same Barça crest that he kissed that day is the one he will be wearing on Sunday night at 9pm CEST.
Documentary series
To mark the midfielder's comeback, Barça One is releasing a documentary series titled 'Gavi, the Return', and the first 37 minute episode is already out and details the first few months of the player's recovery programme.