Knee injuries are a major problem for Barça: Joan Garcia will undergo meniscus surgery.

BarcelonaJoan Garcia, with a torn medial meniscus in his left knee that he suffered in the final minutes of the match against Oviedo, and Raphinha, who is suffering from an injury to the middle third of the hamstring in his right thigh, have been added to Barça's injury list.

The goalkeeper, who will undergo arthroscopy this Saturday, will be out for four to six weeks. It's not a serious injury, but he must undergo surgery. Dr. Juan Carlos Monllau will operate on him. Raphinha will be back in about three weeks. The Brazilian is expected back after the international break, when Barça-Girona is played on October 18.

With Ter Stegen also out with a long-term injury, Szczesny will once again be Barça's goalkeeper. Youngster Eder Aller (18) will now be the second-choice goalkeeper because Diego Kochen, who started the season with the first team, is with the United States national team for the U-20 World Cup in Chile, which is being played around this time.

The biggest fear among the young players in the locker room

Although Joan's injury isn't serious, injuries to this joint, whether affecting the ligaments or the meniscus, are a widespread fear in the world of football, and particularly among Barça's youngsters. At a time when Marc Bernal is just beginning to feel like a footballer, Hansi Flick is seeing how he'll be without Joan for more than a month; more than half a season without Gavi due to a new knee injury; and Ansu Fati, who has never been able to return to the level he showed before his injury, is seeking his fortune on loan at Monaco.

And after knee injuries, particularly long-term ones, returning to the pitch is not easy; it must be gradual. This is especially true for young players, who are less familiar with their bodies and who can often be affected by injuries during a stage of growth, or who have recently entered physical maturity, as is the case with those aged 21 or younger. Marc Bernal (18 years old) was the latest Barça player to return to play after recovery. The center suffered a serious injury on August 27, 2024, in Vallecas. 383 days later, on September 14, 2025, he returned against Valencia. The mental aspect is key to recovery. "There are many months in which you don't have much pain, but in which a lack of confidence develops," Dr. Miquel Llobet, an expert in traumatology and orthopedic surgery, explains to ARA.

In addition to Bernal's case, there are other recent ones at Barça, such as the aforementioned case of Gavi. The Andalusian was injured on November 19, 2023, in a match with Spain, and was two years older than when Bernal was injured. The Los Palacios native reappeared on October 20, 2024, that is, 348 days later. Although many young players have suffered this injury, Llobet affirms that age is not a factor that increases the risk of anterior cruciate ligament rupture. On the other hand, it is important in the recovery process: "It's an injury that requires many months to fully recover, and it has a biological and psychological aspect. Lack of experience can lead young players to rush into things and pretend they're fine. Objectively, the doctor can prove that the knee is stable after 6 or 8 months, and then believe it's fine, only to find it isn't," Llobet explains.

Aware of the complexity of the injury, Hansi Flick's coaching staff designed a specific plan to take care of Gavi, just as they are doing with Bernal, who has taken more than a year to return to playing. The Andalusian took six games, in which he played 49 minutes in total, before starting for Celta for the first time since the injury. Gavi progressively got minutes before stringing together several starts in January 2025. The 21-year-old footballer, however, has not been lucky and will now be out for another four to five months with an internal meniscus injury, unrelated to the one he suffered in 2023.

The factors

"When this injury occurs, the meniscus and cartilage can also be torn. In the case of the Andalusian footballer, it could be due to an accident or a consequence of the first injury," adds Llobet, who highlights the tight schedule and the aggressiveness of some players among the risk factors, a factor that fits. Although it might be normal to see some minor relapses with Bernal, the doctor cites the example of Xavi Hernández, his player. The player from Egarense tore his anterior cruciate ligament at 25 years old and did not have any subsequent injuries as a result of the first one. Xavi returned to the pitch in record time, taking only four months to recover.

On the other hand, Ansu Fati has had associated muscle injuries due to being "physically unbalanced," as determined by the Barça Sports City at the ARA. "It's important that they are in very good physical condition and that their muscles are strong. Hansi Flick also checks during training to see if the player has the confidence to return," concludes Dr. Llobet. "Talking between coach and player is essential to know what role is expected and what short-term goals they should meet," Marcela Herrera, professor of performance psychology at UVic and member of the Catalan Association of Sports Psychology, explained to this newspaper. Bernal will gradually return, Gavi begins a new and lengthy recovery, and Joan will be out for more than a month. Knee injuries are the biggest fear in the Barça locker room.