Injury issues continue to mount for Barcelona ahead of a key run of games for Hansi Flick across all competitions.
Gavi has already been ruled out for five to six months after undergoing surgery on his meniscus, and now Joan Garcia is set for the same treatment.
Flick confirmed the blow over his No.1, who has been ever present since the start of the campaign, and he’s expected to be out for four to six weeks.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper injured his knee in training, and despite early rumours over a three week absence, that has since been extended, due to the need for surgery.
That recovery timeframe puts him as a doubt for the El Clasico meeting with Real Madrid at the end of October and Flick has been forced to change his plans.
Wojciech Szczesny has been pragmatic over his role as a back up keeper this season after signing a contract extension over the summer.
With Marc-Andre ter Stegen sidelined until the start of 2026, Szczesny will now be drafted in, and the former Poland international could play five games either side of the October international break.
The promotion of Szczesny has also prompted a call to bring Diego Kochen back from international duty with the USA at the U20 FFA World Cup in Chile.
Clubs are not required to release players for FIFA underage tournaments, but Barcelona allowed Kochen to go, prior to Garcia’s injury.
As per reports from Marca, Kochen is already on route back to Spain, ahead of the weekend home clash with Real Sociedad.
Kochen has previously been named on the bench by Flick this season, as third choice behind Garcia and Szczesny, but he is yet to make a senior appearance for Barcelona following his move to the La Masia academy in from his local team in Florida in 2019.
