Barcelona Defender Hits Out at Football Stakeholders Following Injury to Gavi and Vinicius

• Players have been subject to a hectic football schedule in recent times
• The growing schedule has sparked a flurry of injuries for many players
• A Barcelona defender has now taken aim at the footballing authorities

The recent surge of player injuries in football has heightened concerns, with many attributing this to the expanding football schedule.

Since the commencement of the 2023/24 season, several players - including Real Madrid's Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois, Yeremy Pino of Villarreal, and most recently Barcelona's Pablo Gavi - have all suffered injuries that have ended their respective seasons abruptly.

The prevailing view is that these injuries are predominantly a consequence of fixture congestion and the escalating demands on players.

Regrettably, the situation is poised to worsen for players, as the number of games they are set to play is expected to increase starting from the 2024/25 season.

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A report by FIFPRO from the 2022/23 season highlighted an unprecedented rise in domestic and international competitions, expanded national team tournaments, and increased travel for footballers.

Notably, players like Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham have been exposed to double the amount of competitive professional football compared to their peers in previous generations, escalating the risk of injury and burnout.

Vinicius Jr, at the age of 22, has already accumulated 18,876 minutes of club and national team football, surpassing former Brazil playmaker, Ronaldinho Gaucho's total at the same age.

Similarly, Pedri of Spain, at only 20, has played over 12,000 minutes - 25% more than Xavi did at the same age - while France's Kylian Mbappe, aged 24, has played 26,952 minutes - a 48% increase compared to Thierry Henry at the same age.

Jude Bellingham has also surpassed Wayne Rooney's minutes by over 30% at only 20.

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Kounde on the growing fixture schedule

Despite these alarming trends, football stakeholders have prioritised competition expansion over player health, driven by the anticipation of generating additional revenue, a decision with which Barcelona's Jules Kounde is definitely livid.

In a recent interview with Clique TV, as reported by transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, the 24-year-old defender expressed his concerns about fixture congestion and its impact on player injuries.

"There are too many games. The pace has become more and more intense, too many injuries. We’re going in a rhythm that's becoming more and more dangerous.

"What bothers me is that when we make this observation, people say that we used to play so much… Even if that was true, it doesn't mean it was good before!"

However, Kounde's plea appears to have fallen on deaf ears, especially considering the plans for the 2024/25 season, which include the expansion of the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

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This expansion could potentially result in an 89-game season for players in the most successful clubs, translating to an 11% increase in the number of games they could face - and a higher risk of injury.

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Kounde reflects on his career

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Kounde recounting his early football days before he made it big as a defender with Barcelona.

The Frenchman was one of the Catalans' big signings during the recent transfer window, signing from Sevilla on a five-year deal.

The defender also attracted interest from Chelsea, with both the Spanish and English sides battling it out for his signature.