Spanish midfielder Gavi, the Barcelona player, revealed his desire to seek psychological support for the first time, admitting that he currently feels far greater pressure than he did when he debuted for the first team at the age of 17.
اضافة اعلان
In an interview with Men’s Health magazine, reported by the Spanish outlet Sport, Gavi stated that psychological support can benefit a player even when they are not going through a difficult period.
He added: "A psychologist is always helpful, whether you are going through a bad time or even when you are doing very well. I haven't seen one before, but I would like to."
The 22-year-old Barcelona player spoke about how his relationship with pressure has changed since his early days with the club, noting that he enjoyed football much more when he was younger.
"I feel much more pressure now than I did at 17," he said. "Back then, I wasn't fully aware of where I had reached, and the younger I was, the more I enjoyed playing football."
His Family Helped Him Through the Toughest Times
Gavi pointed out that his family was his refuge during the difficult periods he experienced due to injuries, explaining that he preferred to distance himself from the surrounding noise and stay close to his loved ones. He said: "I isolated myself with my family, and that helped me a lot."
The Spanish international's career has seen a series of injuries in recent years, most notably a severe knee injury that kept him off the pitch for a prolonged period and forced him through an extended treatment and rehabilitation program.
Gavi explained that this experience altered how he cares for his body, making him more patient and attentive to the details of his recovery process.
"Perhaps I wasn't patient before, but now I've become much more patient," he added. "When I was injured, I had to go through specific phases and set goals for myself."
"I Cannot Neglect My Knee"
The Barcelona player emphasized that taking care of his knee has become a permanent part of his daily routine, whether he plays in matches or sits out.
"My knee has to stay strong at all times, whether I play or not," he said. "I can't neglect it because things can get complicated at any moment."
However, Gavi stressed that he tries not to enter matches worried about the possibility of sustaining another injury, as that could hinder his enjoyment and performance on the field.
"If you spend the entire match thinking about what might or might not happen, I don't think you'll enjoy it much," he said. "You have to play without overthinking and compete as you usually do."
Gavi’s statements highlight the mental aspect of a career belonging to a player who reached the first team and the Spanish national squad at an early age only to find himself, within a few short years, confronting the pressures of high-level competition, injuries, and fan expectations factors that have prompted him to seriously consider seeking professional psychological support.
Resource: Al-Ghad.
