Barcelona Football Club's Prominent Player Is Causing Trouble in the Dressing Room, Claims El Nacional
Barcelona Football Club's Prominent Player Is Causing Trouble in the Dressing Room, Claims El Nacional
A top FC Barcelona player has turned into a "principal issue" in the main team dressing room as per El Nacional, which relied on confidential sources.
Elevating La Masia product Gavi from relative anonymity to the senior team in 2021 was one of the significant victories in Ronald Koeman's reign prior to him being let go and replaced by Xavi Hernandez the subsequent year.
Under Xavi, Gavi received the Golden Boy trophy that was awarded to Lamine Yamal this week for being the best player in Europe under the age of 21.
He also became an undisputed starter under the former number 6 whose jersey he inherited, and Xavi once described him as the "spirit" of his team along with having "heart with legs."
Unfortunately, those comments needed to be made with sadness when an ACL injury sustained on international duty for Spain kept Gavi out for almost a year starting mid-November 2023.
The hefty injury meant he missed the rest of Barca's trophyless season as a result, in addition to La Roja's winning Euro 2024 campaign in Germany this summer.
Gavi finally returned to the field against fellow Andalusians Sevilla in a 5-1 win in Montjuic as October came to a close.
However, rather than gradually work his way into Flick's starting XI, he has discovered himself serving as a routine substitute alongside Frenkie de Jong, who is also being kept out of the team by Marc Casado and Pedri.
El Nacional claims that Gavi has turned into a "headache" and "major problem" in the dressing room.
Unhappy with his position under Flick, who clearly admires the 20-year-old, despite his selection choices not reflecting this, Gavi believes that he needs consistency to regain his self-confidence and once again become fearless.
Gavi refuses to accept his secondary role, and will reportedly reconsider his future at Barca if the situation remains as it is at present.
In the past, the 20-year-old hasn't been short of interest from the likes of Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Liverpool, among a few potential suitors, yet he elected to sign a new contract at Barca until mid-2026.
Gavi's decision to extend his contract with Barcelona until mid-2026, despite his current situation, has been noted.
In the 2023-2024 season, Spain's Euro 2024-winning squad included the absent Gavi due to his ACL injury sustained on international duty.
Despite Xavi Hernandez's high praise, calling Gavi the "spirit" of his team and having "heart with legs," the young midfielder has struggled to secure a consistent starting spot under Hansi Flick.
Pedri's presence in the team and Marc Casado's selection choices have contributed to Gavi's role as a substitute, a situation that has become a source of frustration for the Spanish player.
Gavi's future at Barcelona could be in question if the current situation of being a routine substitute under Hansi Flick does not change.