Barcelona share fresh update on Gavi's ACL recovery

Barcelona midfielder Gavi appears to be making progress in his ongoing recovery from an ACL tear that ended his 2023/24 season back in November.

Gavi, the player who in 2021 kickstarted the current flurry of La Masia graduates stepping up to the first-team, suffered the devastating injury while on international duty with Spain and underwent surgery on his right knee a few days later.

Having made 96 Barcelona appearances across the previous two campaigns, it immediately stopped the teenager in his tracks. Initial estimates on his return were around ten months, although more recent speculation in Spain claims it could be longer, potentially even keeping him out until 2025.

At present, Gavi still has some way to go, only just over six months into the rehab process.

But Barcelona took action to ease the worst fears with some training footage of the Spain international, who would have been going to Euro 2024 this summer, working hard on a number of different exercises in the gym. Getting back to running on grass will be the next big step.

Gavi's contract was the subject of a long running saga between Barcelona and La Liga. A new deal until 2026 with a €1bn release clause was signed as far back as September 2022, but it couldn't be registered due to financial restrictions and it wasn't until the end of last season that it was.

The player has inherited the number six shirt made famous for so many years at Camp Nou by Xavi. Gavi had already entered the first-team fold before the returning club legend was appointed head coach in November 2021, but it was under his tutelage that he flourished.

When Gavi returns, whether in the autumn or January, he will have a new coach in Hansi Flick. The German was appointed on a two-year deal when Xavi was controversially sacked last month.

READ THE LATEST BARCELONA NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP