In a twist of fate that often accompanies international football breaks, the notorious “FIFA virus” has struck again, leaving a trail of key players from top European clubs sidelined with injuries. Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the clubs counting the cost of this latest international stint.
The term “FIFA virus” has come to be associated with the injuries players pick up while representing their national teams, often to the detriment of their clubs’ aspirations. The sting has been particularly sharp for Barcelona, whose young talent Gavi returned from duty with the Spanish national team on crutches. The severity of Gavi’s injury suggests a lengthy spell out of action, likely depriving the Catalans of one of their pivotal figures for the remainder of the season.
Real Madrid finds itself in a similar quandary with two of its stars, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior and France’s Eduardo Camavinga, both falling prey to injuries. Vinícius is facing a two-month layoff due to a muscle tear, and Camavinga is out for an unspecified period after tearing a ligament in his knee. These absences come at a critical juncture, with Madrid vying for the Spanish league lead and having already secured a spot in the next round of the Champions League.
Elsewhere in England, Premier League champions Manchester City had a momentary scare with Erling Haaland, though the Norwegian’s ankle injury appears to be less serious than initially feared. However, Paris Saint-Germain has been less fortunate, with their prodigious 17-year-old midfielder, Warren Zaïre-Emery, hurting his right ankle during his record-setting international debut.
The injury woes extend to Manchester United, concerned about goalkeeper André Onana after he couldn’t finish Cameroon’s World Cup qualifier. Inter Milan is also counting the cost with Alessandro Bastoni picking up an injury while on Italy duty.
Spanish media have been critical of the national team management, particularly in the case of Gavi, whose injury occurred after a knock in a seemingly inconsequential match. This has led to discussions around Barcelona potentially lodging a formal complaint, reflecting the tension between club and country obligations.
Despite the financial compensation clubs receive for injuries that keep their players out for over 28 days, the absence of such key individuals cannot be understated. For Barcelona, already on course to advance in the Champions League after two group-stage eliminations, the loss of Gavi is a bitter pill to swallow. Real Madrid’s squad depth will also be tested without the services of their dynamic duo, Vinícius and Camavinga.
Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal’s exit from Spain’s match with a muscle injury adds to the list of casualties, impacting the team’s performance in the Spanish league where they currently sit in sixth place.
The phenomenon isn’t new. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is yet another example, having not played for the club since sustaining an injury with Nigeria during the previous international break. A recent study by the Howden insurance group indicated that players’ absences due to injury have lengthened following the World Cup in Qatar.
As the last international break of the year wraps up with games across the globe, clubs will be eagerly awaiting the safe return of their remaining stars, with the hope that the “FIFA virus” doesn’t claim more victims.
