Manchester City In The Market For Barcelona Youngster: A Massive Coup For Guardiola?

According to El Nacional, Manchester City are among the clubs interested in the services of Gavi. The Barcelona youngster is facing an uncertain future at the club as his release clause is only set at €50 million, with the player also earning meagre wages in Catalonia. It has led to speculations regarding his long-term future at the club, with Man City prepared to snap him up, should the chance arrive.

Gavi’s Rapid Rise To Prominence

Formerly of Real Betis, Gavi has been a part of the Barcelona academy since 2015, at the age of just 10. Since then, the youngster has enjoyed a swift progression, notably earning his promotion to the senior side in the summer.

It didn’t take him long to make his debut either, with the midfielder notably appearing as a substitute in a win over Getafe back in August. Since then, he has notched up 22 competitive outings, even establishing himself as a first-team regular under Xavi.

A central midfielder by trade, Gavi has impressed the onlookers with his technical prowess and the ability to play in a variety of positions. During his 22 matches, he has featured in at least five different positions including left-wing, right-wing and even attacking midfield.

The 17-year-old also offers a lot of aggression to the table, which often becomes useful in the first line of press. As a result, he has become an asset to the Barcelona setup and is seemingly emerging as one of the most talented young players in Europe.

An Excellent Option For Manchester City?

Manchester City’s interest in Gavi is hardly surprising as Pep Guardiola looks to snap up the Spanish wonderkid, who could prove to be an ideal long-term asset for his team.

From a tactical perspective, Gavi has the potential to become an ideal replacement for David Silva. He can work in central midfield alongside Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne offering the creative essence whilst making useful runs out wide. He is far superior to Ilkay Gundogan when it comes to attacking versatility.

At the same time, Gavi can be an alternative for de Bruyne. At the age of 30, the Belgian isn’t getting any younger, so the addition of someone like Gavi can help Guardiola build a solid core for the future.

However, the report suggests the youngster has his heart set on Barcelona and is unlikely to make such a radical move so early on in his career. He is already considered a star player by Xavi and has a bright future ahead of him in Catalonia if he can help the club rebuild alongside the likes of Pedri, Ansu Fati and the newly acquired Ferran Torres.