Yesterday was not the first Friday that Iván de la Peña, representative of Gavi, dropped by the sports city to meet with Barça's director of football, Mateu Alemany, and try to seal the renewal of the Los Palacios youth squad that It's taking much longer than expected. All roads lead to the fact that there will soon be an agreement for Gavi to renew until 2026 with a clause of 1,000 million. Especially since the 17-year-old boy who arrived at La Masia at the age of 10 wants to continue in the club of his life. But the difference in criteria that deals with what the youth squad means affects the salary negotiation of the contract.
The player's environment thinks that Gavi, international with the senior team, is a reality. On the other side of the board, Barça's sports managers consider that without his decisive commitment he would not have made it to the national team and that he is still a young promise in the process of growth. "There are home players who find it difficult to play position . It surprises me”, Xavi Hernández slipped one day. One of the coach's usual recommendations to Gavi is that he always look, constantly, before receiving the ball to know where his teammate is and where the rival is to choose the best passing option.
Sergio Busquets also spoke in this regard, emphasizing from the concentration of the Spanish team that “Gavi is a player in training. He lacks the positional play that we sometimes try to do”, however captain and coach agree that Gavi has an undeniable natural talent. "He is very good, he will evolve," said Busquets. “He is a player for the present and for the future. I hope they reach an agreement and renew it”, said Xavi, who although he considers that the youth squad has a logical margin of improvement due to his age, he is also moved by his personality and the cheeky character that he prints on the pitch.
It also happens that the club, diminished by a skyrocketing salary mass, has been forced to set salary limits on a scale of renewals led by Pedri and Ansu Fati followed closely by Ronald Araújo. The club's intention is for Gavi to go one point behind the Uruguayan. And that is what is being worked on. “We have made our position clear and we have no answer. The news we have is that your agent is comparing," said an angry president Joan Laporta in an interview with L'Esportiu on May 25.
Those were some statements that hurt the player's environment. His agent, former Barça player Iván de la Peña, denied having a written offer. On the other hand, they did value the defense that coach Luis Enrique made of Gavi on Thursday in the Benito Villamarín press room. His was that of a very convinced coach. "Gavi is unknown with the ball in Spanish football, even for those who are close to him," he asserted after the draw with Portugal (1-1) in the first round of the third edition of the Nations League. And he launched a new message. “He doesn't just run, he's very dangerous with the ball. He is a pure midfielder and has a goal, you will see him in the future”.
The future is present. Because Gavi responded in the next game against the Czech Republic by drawing before the break and surpassing fellow Barça player Ansu Fati as the earliest scorer with Spain. Gavi has achieved it with 17 years and 304 days, while Ansu Fati had done it with 17 years and 311 days. A week of difference that places the youngster from Los Palacios who still resides in La Masia and who likes to play with his laces untied at the top of the podium. And he wants to continue making history in his Barcelona.
