European Championship qualification
A big blow for Spain: young star Gavi is out for a long time
Spain’s Gavi injured his knee. photo
© Manu Fernandez/AP
He is a key player in the team of European Championship co-favorites Spain. After a serious injury in the qualifying game, Gavi has to take a long break.
The young Spanish star After suffering a serious knee injury in the qualifying game against Georgia (3-1), Gavi is expected to be out for the rest of the season and therefore also for the European Football Championship in Germany.
The 19-year-old FC Barcelona technician suffered a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and an injury to the lateral meniscus. The Catalan club announced this after an investigation. Gavi is scheduled to undergo surgery in the coming days and is expected to be out of action for six to eight months.
The midfielder sustained the injury early in the game in Valladolid after a challenge with Georgia’s Luka Lochoschwili. After the game, national coach Luis de la Fuente spoke of a “serious injury” and the “bitter victory of his life.”
Teammates shocked
The injury also shocked Gavi’s teammates. Ferran Torres held up his teammate’s jersey after scoring to make it 2-1.
The long absence is a heavy blow for the European Championship title candidate. The technician, who was honored as the best young star in 2022, is one of the key players in the Spanish team that secured group victory ahead of Scotland. Despite his young age, the game against Georgia was his 27th international match and he has scored 5 goals for the team so far. Gavi is also an integral part of the Barça team. He played 12 of 13 games for the champions in La Liga this season.