Barcelona manager Xavi has urged his teenage midfielder Gavi to stay at the Nou Camp next season, amid transfer links with Liverpool and other Premier League clubs.
The 18-year-old Spaniard is the subject of an unusual situation that has seen his contract reversed to that of an academy player thanks to a ruling enforced by LaLiga. Gavi's original deal has a clause in it that stipulates he could leave the Catalan giants for free if he is not on a full first-team contract by June of this year.
That has put several top European clubs on alert, reportedly including Liverpool and Chelsea, but Barcelona great Xavi is determined to hold onto his prize asset and says he is already in the best place for his continuing development.
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As per 90min, Xavi said: “I don’t think Gavi would be happy at a different club. He has everything here at 18 and is an important player for the team. I think his future is here at the club.”
Regardless of what the Barca boss had to say about Gavi, the matter could be taken completely out of his hands if the teenager decides to take advantage of the quirk in his contract.
Liverpool are in urgent need of a re-engineering of their midfield options and snapping up one of Spain's brightest young talents on a free transfer would unquestionably be smart business by the Reds if they are able to convince him to move to the Premier League.
Gavi has been with the current LaLiga leaders since the age of 11, but had to change his Barcelona shirt number from 6 back to 30 after a court ruling agreed with the Spanish league that his club was in breach of wage limit regulations when they offered their young star a full professional contract last year.
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