Barcelona suffer double blow as Gavi injury adds to stadium woe

Barcelona have announced that their anticipated return to Camp Nou has been once again been deferred after the city council raised safety and security concerns following construction work at the stadium.

The club had hoped to play their La Liga fixture against Real Sociedad at the revamped stadium on Sunday, but will now host the game at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in nearby Montjuïc after Barcelona City Council refused to grant the required permits.

It marks the latest setback for the La Liga champions as they seek to return to their spiritual home, albeit in front of a reduced-capacity crowd of 27,000, amid a £1.3bn renovation scheme to increase the stadium’s capacity to 105,000. 

‘We have spotted different elements that need to be fixed’

While the project is not scheduled to be completed until next year, the original expectation was that Camp Nou would reopen last November with a reduced capacity of 62,000. That projection was subsequently revised to allow for an incremental rise from 27,000 to 45,000 before the first-phase figure of 62,000 was reached. The second phase of the project would then see the headline target of 105,000 met.

Despite repeated inspections of the site, however, the stated targets have not been met, leaving the club’s return to Les Corts nine months behind schedule.

“We have spotted different elements that need to be fixed and have an impact in the safety and security of the stadium,” said Sebastia Massague, the city’s chief of civil protection, at a council meeting. “Some of those elements are in the access routes to the stadium, to ensure all the fans can attend at the stadium.”

‘Barcelona is working on the amendments the council has shared’

The news follows last week’s announcement that Barcelona’s Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain on 1 October will also take place at the 55,000-seat Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, where the club has played for the past two seasons following the commencement of work in May 2023. 

Barcelona said in a statement that work is afoot to address the council’s concerns. 

“The club is currently working on the new amendments that the council has shared today,” read an announcement published on Tuesday evening. “FC Barcelona thanks its members and supporters for their understanding and support during such a complex and exciting process.”

In a further blow to the Catalan club, influential midfielder Gavi has been ruled out for up to five months after undergoing surgery on his right knee. The 21-year-old Spain international went under the knife after injuring the joint in training last month.

“Gavi has had an arthroscopy to resolve a medial meniscus injury, which was sutured to preserve the meniscus,” Barcelona said in a statement. “Recovery time is estimated at around four to five months.”