News surrounding Barcelona and Gavi has sent alarm bells ringing around Europe, with the Mercancile Court overturning it’s decision that originally allowed Gavi to have a first team contract at Barcelona.
The overturning came after complaints from other La Liga clubs about Barcelona’s finances, and supreme talent Gavi has become an innocent victim of the ongoing circus at Camp Nou.
So, what happens to Gavi? The Spanish wonderkid can still play for Barcelona; but has returned to his youth contract. This means that he has lost his number six shirt, returning to his original number #30. He will also have lost a staggering €7m in wages.
The other thing that Gavi has lost is his release clause. This means that any club can approach him in the upcoming transfer window to acquire his highly sought of services. After being treated like this, you would at least consider your options, right?
European clubs are licking their lips at this, because as far as free transfers go, opportunities don’t come much bigger than this.
The 18-year-old has won the ‘Golden Boy’ award, played in the World Cup knockout stages and has excelled in the early stages of his career, establishing himself as a key player in Xavi’s Barcelona side that is on track to win the La Liga title.
With the big clubs starting to circle Barcelona, and with all the power in Gavi’s hands, questions are being asked as to whether Gavi will stick or twist.
Who are the clubs that would benefit from Gavi’s services? Will Barcelona manage to hold on to their man, or will one shark get bargain of the summer?
Manchester City are perfect for Gavi. Pep Guardiola is known for his incredible, possession-based, Barcelona-like style of play. He would love to sign Gavi on a free transfer as he fits the description for Pep’s perfect midfielder, especially when it looks like Gundogan could be heading to Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer. The Etihad Stadium is as close as Gavi’s going to get to guaranteed trophies, and why wouldn’t he want to learn from Kevin De Bruyne and trial his learning by threading passes into Erling Haaland. Gavi, Foden and Rodri could be running the Champions League in a few years and wreaking havoc domestically.
Who doesn’t want to play under Jurgen Klopp? Time and time again, he has proved that he is the best in the business in developing players into world beaters. Gavi wears his heart of his sleeve and puts his body on the line for Barcelona, and Klopp would love this. Gavi shouldn’t cap his feistiness in La Liga, he should prove himself in the physical Premier League. Anfield needs a whole new midfield revamp this summer and Gavi could be the figurehead of the rebuild. It’s not too bad supplying Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz with passes either…
Manchester United
Erik Ten Hag is doing something very special with Manchester United. Even after the drop off in the last few years, Manchester United still manage to attract the best names because it is an honour to play for them. Many consider it the biggest club in the world – imagine having played at the Camp Nou and Old Trafford as a teenager! Not only that, can you imagine Gavi and Casemiro alongside each other, they would have the Old Trafford crowd purring. The Spanish teenager could be the statement signing at Manchester United and could be the final piece to help them rise back to the top.
There is something that just works with Arsenal and majestic and technical Spanish midfielders. Fabregas, Arteta, Cazorla, Gavi? He would work under Mikel Arteta, the man who proves that you can win with kids. He has literally woven trusting youth into Arsenal’s DNA and is one of the most exciting young coaches in world football, off the back of a potential Premier League winning season. Gavi would be the prefect replacement for Granit Xhaka who is 30 years old now – and pending a Premier League title – would have achieved everything he needed to at the Gunners. Arsenal play beautiful football and Gavi will become part of the youngest and most inspiring team in Europe. Playing alongside Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli is enough to make anyone want to represent the Gunners, no?
Chelsea are just exciting, aren’t they. They might not be high-flying currently, but Gavi has age on his side, and Chelsea could become scarily good in years to come. Gavi would become part of project packed with young quality, threading balls into Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and potentially Joao Felix in years to come, all whilst playing alongside World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez in the one of the most formidable young midfields in European football. Chelsea have a history of winning big, even when everybody has written them off, Gavi should go to Stamford Bridge.
Newcastle
The 18-year-old should follow the path of Bruno Guimaraes and take Newcastle to the next level. They are the side pushing for Champions League football in the Premier League and they are expected to continue to break the so-called ‘big six’ in years to come. Signing for Newcastle could be the best investment you will ever make, but does he have the nerve to do it?
PSG
Gavi’s idol growing up was Marco Verratti, so why not become the heir to his thrown? He can be the start of PSG’s new era and play with the world’s most star-studded attack in front of him. PSG have the most expensive and flashiest front-line in Europe featuring Mbappe, Neymar and Messi. Imagine if Gavi was the man to win them their first Champions League after all of the star quality that they have had over the years…
Most of the clubs on here want Gavi because of the free transfer situation, Bayern Munich have tried for Gavi before. They’ve always believed in the hype and will always back Gavi and support him. You get to play alongside some of the world’s best, for a club that fears not winning. Bayern Munich’s trophy cabinet is almost too decorated, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to go dry under the reign of Thomas Tuchel, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in the same season that he joined them.
Stay with Barcelona
If Gavi stays at Barcelona, he will be eternally loved by the fans. Despite hardships and times where he has probably felt unfairly treated, he has stayed at the club due to his loyalty and love for it. He can go on to play football the Barcelona way alongside his best mate Pedri in midfield. Stay, become a club legend, and take Barcelona right back to the very top where they belong. Plus, you never know, Gavi might get to play football with Lionel Messi next season for his last dance at Barcelona.
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