Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has refused any responsibility for Gavi’s season-ending injury that he suffered while playing for the national team.
The Spain national team manager clarified that Barcelona did not communicate anything regarding not playing Gavi in La Roja’s Euro 2024 qualifying game against Georgia on November 19, where the midfielder suffered a serious injury, completely rupturing the ACL in his right knee. That issue has ruled him out of action for at least nine months, with the youngster set to undergo surgery this week. De la Fuente also stated that a player’s health is of utmost priority for him and that he had originally planned to take Gavi off at half-time.
Speaking on the El Larguero podcast on La Ser, the Spain boss said: “Barca did not ask that Gavi not play the last game with Spain. Just as I don’t get involved in clubs, I don’t like it when they do it. We had the idea that the national team, just as when they leave they must focus on their clubs. We had the idea that he would play only 45 minutes in the second game.
“We always prioritise the health of the footballer, and I have had performances that show it. All the players who come want to play every game and Gavi especially. He is gifted, so active that the day after the game against Cyprus, training, he wanted to exercise with a normal session instead of doing recovery.”
He added: “I asked him at half-time and he told me that in the first action there was nothing. The doctors did not notice instability in the knee and allowed him to continue playing. If we had seen an obvious injury or the player had warned us, it would not have lasted even half second on the field. The opinions of doctors? I haven’t listened to or read the media for a while, I live more calmly. Our doctors assure us after the first inning that the player could continue. Whoever says it was a formal match, no he tells the truth. We represent our country and it was a qualifying match. Nothing is given to anyone.”
Despite losing a key player to serious injury, Barcelona manager Xavi had earlier claimed that he had no problems with the Spain boss and that he had spoke to him about the incident.
The former Golden Boy award winner is expected to remain out of action for the remainder of the ongoing season and could also miss Euro 2024, which is scheduled to start in June in Germany.
The 22-year-old received support from all quarters after his unfortunate injury, including from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who sent him a note of encouragement.
