Finally! Barça strengthens after Gavi's situation, there's an agreement, signs until 2029

Barça received the worst possible news when doctors discovered that Gavi's knee was much more damaged than expected. What seemed like a simple arthroscopy to clean up discomfort ended up as a meniscus suture with a recovery time of five months. The young Andalusian won't return until February or March, leaving a huge gap in Hansi Flick's system.

The surgery aims to ensure that Gavi can live without pain for the rest of his professional career with complete normality. However, the price is a long absence that compromises much of Barça's season in all competitions. His absence forces a rethink of rotations and exposes the team to excessive wear on its starting midfielders.

The initial plan called for four to five weeks out, something manageable, but the final scenario was a real cold shower. Gavi's injury not only affects Barça in sporting terms, but also hits the spirits of a very united locker room. Flick loses the player who represented maximum intensity and competitive grit in every match of the season.

Flick loses his engine in the middle

The German coach will have to trust Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Casadó, and Marc Bernal more than ever to keep Barça afloat. The overload of minutes on footballers with concerning physical histories can be a huge risk during the coming months of competition. Hansi Flick knows that without Gavi he loses an irreplaceable piece who provided balance between defensive aggression and offensive clarity.

Barça loses an energy that transformed the team in difficult moments and set the emotional tone of the matches. Gavi was that player who never stopped running and who conveyed a competitive spirit even on the toughest days. Without him, Barça will have to reinvent itself, relying more on the composure and control of Frenkie de Jong.

In this context, the news of Frenkie de Jong's imminent contract renewal becomes the best possible balm for Barça. Hansi Flick needs a silent leader with experience and quality, capable of being the beacon of the culé midfield in his absence. Now everything points to the Dutchman staying at the club until 2029, providing stability and trust.

After almost two years of stalled negotiations, Joan Laporta managed to unlock Frenkie de Jong's contract renewal with enormous satisfaction. The Dutchman had a contract until 2026, but if he didn't sign before January he could negotiate freely with any interested European club. Barça couldn't afford to lose such a valuable footballer in the midst of a crisis due to Gavi's injury.