Gavi injures his knee while Fermín is struggling.

BarcelonaProblems for Hansi Flick ahead of the third La Liga match. The German coach already knows he will be without Pablo Gavi, who is injured in his right knee. The Andalusian left Friday's training session due to discomfort that, according to ARA, may be somewhat more serious than initially believed, when the club insisted it was "only" a knock. The problems are in the same knee that Gavi seriously injured two years ago – the right one – and specifically in the meniscus area. The Barça player's joint is quite swollen, so it is recommended that tests be completed once the bruise subsides.

It is estimated that on Sunday or Monday the exact extent of the injury will be known, which, for now, will rule him out of the Rayo Vallecano match against Barça and also from the Spanish national team squad. However, Hansi Flick has reassured the fans. In the press conference prior to the trip to Vallecas, the German coach said that they are "a little less worried than yesterday" and that he hopes to have Gavi available for Barça's next match, on September 14, against Valencia.

The setback with Gavi comes just three days before the transfer window closes and amid uncertainty surrounding the future of Fermín López, who has an offer to join Chelsea on the table. The Andalusian player, with a contract until 2029, is hesitant while Barça, in dire financial need, values the player at €90 million, an amount the Londoners consider exaggerated. According to the newspaper SportFermín had planned to address the reports with a statement on social media this Friday, but ultimately chose to remain silent, which, far from quelling the rumors, actually fuels them. Trained at La Masia, the player from El Campillo (Huelva), who in recent weeks has had problems in the dressing room with Gavi, has an interesting option ahead of him to change his surroundings and earn more money.

What Hansi Flick thinks about Fermín's departure

Flick wasn't categorical about Fermín's continued presence. The Barça manager expressed his desire for the midfielder to remain with the team. "He's here for now. I've spoken with him and I think he'll stay. He already knows what I think. I'll be very happy when the transfer window closes," he said at the outset. He added: "His heart is at Barça. He's at home." However, when asked about the club's position, which hasn't declared him untransferable, Flick distanced himself with his response: "I don't know. I'm focused on the team; I'm not interested in the financial situation. My focus is on the team, and we have a fantastic squad. Everyone knows I'd like to keep those."

"There are people who know better what's going on. It's a business, but I'm focused on my team. Fermín has shown many times how important he is to us. He can help us a lot. He's a midfielder who scores a lot, who has a different style to the rest of our players in this position," the player has emphasized. Being honest, he admits that Fermín's departure is a possibility: "We have to wait."

Registrations in sight

In the midst of everything, Barça plays Rayo Vallecano this Sunday. The match is fraught not only because of the quality of an opponent who has just secured a spot in the Conference League, but also because of the precarious state of the Vallecas pitch. And if that weren't enough, Flick is struggling with Gavi's injury and the possible departure of Fermín. The German, who last week had to address rumors about Marc Casadó's possible departure, has made his position clear. Following Iñigo Martínez's departure, he has publicly and privately opposed losing more players. He also expressed his displeasure with the difficulty associated with registering players. For now, Gerard Martín has already confirmed for Vallecas. Now he hopes to receive the same good news with Tek Szczesny and Roony Bardghji, who have been waiting for weeks.