Is this a make or break year for Gavi?

He beat, now Real Madrid superstar, Jude Bellingham to the Golden Boy award in 2022 after starring in his debut season for Barcelona. In his next season, he was a starter and key piece to Barcelona's La Liga title under Xavi Hernandez. In 23/24 Gavi was shining and playing his best football yet despite the team struggling but than he suffered an ACL tear which ended his best season yet.
Gavi had the world at his feet before he suffered that injury in a meanigless match against Georgia.

Now in the 24/25 season he made his return, but was unable to displace anyone in the starting 11 as Pedri had a phenomenal season, Frenkie De Jong came in to his own and Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez were preferred as the "10's". The inability to crack the starting 11 could be chalked up to getting back up to match speed and fitness, but is this year now make or break for Gavi?

Gavi Strengths

Gavi is a player often applauded for his tackling, his pressing and his intangibles which are things not usually associated with a La Masia player. He is great in those aspects but he is also very good technically with his progressive runs and ball retention in possesion. Before his injury, he was shaping up to be one of the most complete midfielders in the world at the age of 19 and it's not that wild to believe he can reach those heights again under Hansi Flick who's football philosophy would fit a player like Gavi.

Gavi's Problem

Gavi had flashes of his old self but never fully looked at the level he had reached before the ACL injury. As mentioned before, he struggled to get playing time with a stacked Barcelona midfield typically making rare starts and sporadic minutes off the bench.

Where is his place on this team? Pedri is the undroppable starter in the "8" position, Marc Bernal, Frenkie De Jong and Marc Casado all cover the "6" position and Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez cover the "10" position.

With this much competition, it makes Gavi have to up his level and carve out his role in the squad that makes him stand out above the rest.

Prediction for the 25/26 season

It would be easy to say the cop out answer of "it depends on how he's recovered from his ACL injury" but that's too easy to say. ACL injures are tricky because you can fully recover but the likelyhood of suffering injuries or even retearing an ACL are high if you push too hard right after recovery. I believe that the Barca staff were being catious with Gavi because of this and will put full trust in to him this season. My prediction is he will make around 30 starts this season across al competitions.

He will be used in all three of the midfield positions providing relief for Pedri in some games, playing the "6" role against lower level sides, and as a "10" in games where his first line pressing will pin teams further back. Gavi pre-injury is similar to Joao Neves to me and a Gavi, Pedri, De Jong/Casado/Bernal midfield can function similar to a Vitinha, Neves, and Fabian Ruiz midfield.

So yes it's a make or break year for Gavi as a future star and starter on the team, but I believe he will make and not break and will be back to his best.