Barcelona midfielder, Gavi, expressed his excitement on Sunday as he made a triumphant return to the pitch after an arduous 11-month recovery from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
The talented 20-year-old had to undergo surgery following the injury he sustained during Spain’s Euro 2024 qualifying match against Georgia in 2023.
His rehabilitation meant he missed the remainder of the season, including Spain’s remarkable victory at the Euros.
On Sunday, Gavi made his comeback as a substitute in Barcelona’s impressive 5-1 victory over Sevilla in LaLiga, receiving a heartfelt standing ovation from fans at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium.
“I’m very happy to be back with the team. I’ve been dreaming about this moment for many months, and I’m grateful to everyone because they’ve made it so much easier for me,” an emotional Gavi shared with Movistar Plus.
He reflected on the challenges of his layoff, stating, “The worst thing during the layoff is not playing with my teammates. Seeing the team from the outside is very hard and gives you a different perspective; you learn that you have to enjoy every moment and appreciate things.”
Gavi continued, “I feel very lucky to be here today, recovered, because this is my life and what I’ve been doing all my life, and I’ve missed it a lot… When you see all the fans and teammates over there and they show you that they love you and appreciate you, you feel very lucky.”
Currently, Barcelona sits atop the LaLiga standings with 27 points, holding a three-point lead over Real Madrid, who are in second place, and seven points ahead of Atletico Madrid in third.
Looking ahead, the Catalan giants will host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday before heading to the Spanish capital for a highly anticipated clash against rivals Real Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday.
The upcoming matches promise to be pivotal as Barcelona aims to maintain their strong form in both domestic and European competitions.
