Javi's Injury: Conflict Between Barcelona and the National Team?

The coach of the Spanish national team clarified that Barcelona has not officially communicated regarding the decision not to involve their player, Javi, in the Euro 2024 qualifying match against Georgia on November 19. This decision stems from a serious injury the player suffered, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. This injury requires him to be sidelined for up to nine months, and the young player is scheduled to undergo surgery later this week.

De la Fuente also emphasized that the player's health is the top priority, and the original plan was to substitute Javi midway through the match. In his participation in the "El Larguero" podcast on Radio La Ser, the Spanish national team coach clarified that Barcelona has not formally requested Javi's non-participation in the match. He highlighted the importance of national teams focusing on their players during international breaks.

The coach added, "We always prioritize the player's health, and Javi was supposed to play only for 45 minutes in the second match. I asked him midway through the game, and he confirmed that he felt no problems in the first half, with no signs of instability in his knee, and the doctors allowed him to continue playing."

Despite losing a key player due to injury, Barcelona's coach, Xavi, confirmed that he has no issues with the Spanish national team coach. The conversation between them regarding the incident affirmed this. Xavi, in the podcast, pointed to the nature of sports and its risks, emphasizing that injuries are an integral part of football.

The player, who won the Golden Boy award, is expected to remain off the field for the rest of the current season and might also miss the Euro 2024 tournament scheduled for June in Germany. The 22-year-old player has received support and encouragement from various parties, including Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who sent him an encouraging message amid these challenging circumstances.