Enric Garcia returned to competitive action for Girona B against Utebo after a 689-day recovery process, Diari de Girona reported.
That return ended nearly two years on the sidelines following a severe knee injury sustained on December 22, 2024. During a match against L’Hospitalet, a heavy collision with an opponent resulted in a torn external ligament and meniscus in his left knee.
Before the injury, the Sant Celoni native had emerged as one of the brightest prospects in the Girona youth setup. At age 16, he made his first-team debut in the Copa del Rey against Orihuela and subsequently featured on the bench for La Liga fixtures against Leganés and Real Sociedad, as well as a UEFA Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven.
“I liked football too much to quit, though yes, there were moments when I thought about throwing in the towel,” Garcia said.
Garcia Faces Rare Bacterial Infection After Surgery
Following initial surgery in Barcelona on January 3, 2025, Garcia faced a severe complication when a bacterial infection took hold in the surgical area just 11 days post-operation. Doctors informed him that the infection occurred in only 0.1% of cases—roughly one in a thousand—carrying the risk of cartilage damage that could have prevented him from walking again.
“The doctors told me it happens in 0.1% of cases. That is to say, one in a thousand,” Garcia said. The infection required a second surgical cleaning and a ten-day hospital stay with intravenous antibiotics.
A third operation followed on March 27 to address severe tissue adhesions that restricted his knee flexion. Despite the procedures, subsequent muscle imbalances and a bone edema delayed his return to running until late 2025.
Family and Psychological Support Aid Garcia's Recovery
Throughout the protracted rehabilitation, Garcia relied heavily on his family, his girlfriend, and sports psychology sessions. He also enrolled in a law degree program to maintain focus outside of football.
“I’ve seen my mother go to the kitchen to cry so I wouldn’t notice she was suffering. My father always told me to look forward, but he was hurting, of course,” Garcia said, as detailed by Diari de Girona.
A late scare in February 2026 raised fears of an anterior cruciate ligament tear during testing, but diagnostic results confirmed no new severe structural damage.
Rebuilding Match Fitness
Having rejoined team training in August, Garcia has since made substitute appearances against Utebo, Calamocha, and Olot.
“In the short term, I’m only thinking about working and getting in little by little to pick up minutes and match dynamics,” Garcia said. “From there, I’d like to finish the season approaching, or surpassing, the level I had before the injury.”
Worth a look
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