FC Barcelona faces being without Spain international midfielder Gavi until February or March after he underwent an exploratory operation on his right knee on Tuesday.

Gavi (R) of Barcelona vies with Serhiy Sydorchuk of Dynamo Kyiv during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between FC Barcelona and FC Dynamo Kyiv in Barcelona, Spain, on Oct. 20, 2021. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)

The Barcelona website explained on Tuesday evening that Gavi "has had an arthroscopy to resolve a medial meniscus injury, which was sutured to preserve the meniscus," adding that the "recovery time is estimated at around 4-5 months."

Gavi suffered the injury in training before last international break and had been following a "conservative" treatment that had not given the necessary results.

The injury is to the same knee where Gavi suffered a torn cruciate ligament while playing for Spain in November 2023, which kept him out of action for a year.

The news comes after it was confirmed that Fermin Lopez will be out of action for three weeks with a groin injury, while Lamine Yamal has also missed last week's action with a pelvic problem.