Barcelona have been dealt another major blow with Gavi ruled out for five months after undergoing knee surgery, but coach Hansi Flick insists there is 'good news' in the setback as he backed the 21-year-old to return stronger.

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  Gavi's injury woes continue

  Barca have been dealt a huge setback with Gavi ruled out for five months after undergoing surgery on his right knee. The 21-year-old suffered the injury just two weeks into the new season, and his absence is now set to stretch into early 2026. The Spaniard has already endured a long spell on the sidelines after tearing his cruciate ligament in late 2023, forcing him out of the first two months of last season. This time, the meniscus problem in his right knee turned out to be worse than initially feared, leaving Flick without one of his most dynamic midfielders once again.

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  Flick sees positives in Gavi’s long layoff

  Speaking before Barca’s clash with Oviedo, Flick admitted the blow hurts the team but insisted the diagnosis gives clarity. 

  "When you receive news like this, you think it’s bad news, but for him personally, it’s good news," he said. "Now we know what to do. He’s 21 years old and has a very long career ahead of him. We have to think about this, to get him 100 percent fit and stay strong.

  "He has a huge heart, he's very emotional, I wouldn't say he'd die for this club, but he lives for it. It's not easy for the team because he brings a lot of quality. We'll all help him get back to his best."

• Barca boss praises Gavi’s mentality

  The Barca boss also spoke about how the youngster is handling the situation mentally, adding: "He has the quality to come back. We need help; he's a professional and we need him. He's a top player. Now, with his second injury, he needs to have a lot of discipline, get back into rhythm… we'll help him, but he knows it will be tough. If anyone can handle this, it's Gavi."

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  What's next for Barcelona?

  It’s not just Gavi missing. Barca are also without Fermin Lopez, who will be out for around three weeks after suffering an iliopsoas muscle injury in his left leg during Sunday’s 3-0 win over Getafe. The midfielder had only just come off the bench before being forced out at the end. With two key young players sidelined, Flick will now have to lean heavily on Pedri and Frenkie de Jong as Barcelona prepare to face some tough fixtures in the coming weeks.