Barcelona fan favourite set to earn starting spot after international break

Barcelona is hopeful that young midfielder Gavi will be ready for a full return to the team once the national team break concludes, reports MARCA. 

It must be noted that the club has been careful in managing his recovery process, especially after his injury. He has been eased back into action with a limited number of minutes on the pitch. 

His appearances so far include 42 minutes in total, broken down into small segments: 7 minutes against Sevilla, 5 minutes against Bayern Munich, 3 minutes in the El Clasico, 5 minutes in the derby, and 22 minutes against Crvena Zvezda.

Barcelona have always been careful

The club has been cautious in monitoring his progress, closely managing his workload as he recovers. Gavi has shown a positive response to the increased intensity of training and match participation, but Barcelona have been careful not to rush him back too quickly. 

Gavi will only start for Barcelona after the international break. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Hansi Flick was clear about taking things slow, and gradually integrating him back into the team. The coach and the club designed a detailed plan for his recovery and reintegration into the squad, ensuring that the midfielder would not be overexerted too soon. 

So far, this strategy has paid off, with Gavi steadily regaining his fitness without setbacks. 

Work paid off

Looking ahead, the plan is for Gavi to gradually increase his minutes in the upcoming match against Real Sociedad, although his full integration into the starting lineup will not come until after the international break. 

By then, he is expected to have regained his full competitive rhythm, allowing him to perform at his highest level. In terms of confidence and physical readiness, Gavi is already at 100%. 

After the break, Flick will have to find a way to fit him into the starting XI, where he will play a key role for Barcelona.