DECRYPTION – Sparkling with Spain against Italy, the young midfielder has revealed himself to the general public. Le Figaro tells you more about Barcelona’s great hope.
Wednesday night it was Gavi “the Magnificent”. Like Gatsby in Francis Scott’s Key Fitzgerald novel, the Spanish midfielder dazzled everyone – actors, spectators, viewers – with his sparkling performance against Squadra Azzura (1-2), in the first semi-final of the League of Nations. Before the final of the competition between La Roja and Les Bleus, Le Figaro tells you more about the young Barcelonan, called to shine with a thousand lights in the coming years.
A pure product of the Masia
If he has revealed himself in recent weeks with the first team of FC Barcelona, Gavi has been known for several years in Catalonia. Born in Los Palacios y Villafranca, in Andalusia, he discovered football during his childhood and joined one of the best clubs in the region: Real Betis Balompié, better known as Betis Seville. Talented, he attracts the attention of the Blaugrana whom he joined in 2015, at the age of 10. He does all his classes there. But the midfielder is not just good. He is a gifted person. In 2020-2021, then only 16 years old, he was incorporated into the U19s of the Catalan formation. In February 2021, he even made his first appearance with the reserve team of FC Barcelona. Early.
SEE ALSO – Luis Enrique : “Gavi is the future and the present of the team»
One of the youngest players in the history of FC Barcelona to play in La Liga
Talent doesn’t wait. Gavi continues to learn, faster than expected. In July 2021, at the dawn of the new season, he was integrated into the FC Barcelona first team. His qualities were noticed by Ronald Koeman … who did not hesitate to offer him his first professional experience at the end of August. By replacing Sergi Roberto in the 74th minute in Barcelona’s victory against Getafe (2-1), on the third day of the Spanish championship, Gavi becomes at 17 years and 24 days the fourth youngest player in the history of FC Barcelona to discover La Liga. He is second only to Bojan Krkic (17 years and 19 days), Ansu Fati (16 years and 298 days) and Martinez Alama (16 years and 280 days).
Youngest Spanish international
Against all odds, after only six professional matches to his name – four in La Liga, two in the Champions League – Gavi is called up by Luis Enrique to represent La Roja in the Nations League. The confidence placed in him by the Spanish coach is immense since he decides to align him from the outset against Italy, in the semi-finals of the competition, despite his inexperience in international games. By treading the lawn of San Siro last Wednesday, the Barcelonan entered a little more in history. At 17 years and 62 days old, he became the youngest Spanish international. Impressive.
SEE ALSO – Spain before training ahead of Nations League final against France
Revealed to the general public against Italy
Luis Enrique’s bet paid off. Spain dismissed Italy (1-2) and qualified for the final. Above all, Gavi has been sparkling. Its volume of play, its physical impact, its technical accuracy and its lightning-fast adaptation to a very international level won over everyone. Starting with his own coach: “He was very good. It’s abnormal to see a player so young with this personality and this football. But we knew him, we knew his character, his physical qualities, his style of play … We could see that he is not the future of the selection, but his present.“, Confided the ex-technician of FC Barcelona after the meeting. Even his evening opponents were won over. “Gavi is already a great player at 17Admitted Roberto Mancini, the coach of the Squadra Azzura. Lyon’s Emerson Palmieri, who saw him at work up close, also praised his qualities: “He impressed me. It has enormous potential», He admitted at the microphone of the Rai. In one performance, Gavi got everyone to agree.
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An admirer of Marco Verratti
This Wednesday, the Barcelonan discovered the international level. But that was not his only reason for satisfaction. The confrontation against Italy allowed him to meet his idol, Marco Verratti, whom he did not let go of a single sole, in accordance with the tactical indications of his coach: “I had already seen him at work in the lower categories, I knew what he was going to bring us. He gives us courage, personality, he’s a physical wonder … He was branded on his idol, Marco Verratti, and he was greatLuis Enrique was ecstatic, completely under the spell of Gavi the “Magnificent”.
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