Gavi: Coming of age in Las Vegas Clásico
Just two weeks away from his 18th birthday, Gavi will be the youngest player in Saturday’s Clásico in Las Vegas. Last season, he had a social media exchange with Toni Kroos.
Pablo Martín Páez Gavira ‘Gavi’ was the big sensation of Spanish football last season. That was clear to see by the enthusiastic way he was received in Sevilla, Málaga - and even in Geneva, for his dazzling performances with the national team in the Nations League. It was as though we were witnessing the birth of a phenomenon - we’ll see if it continues.
For Gavi, the Vegas Clásico will mark his coming of age - little over a fortnight before his 18th birthday. Last season, he accumulated 46 games with the first team and ten with the national team. He is “a unique case”, as Spain coach Luis Enrique described him. Next month, when he reaches that milestone age, he will be able to sign a new contract with Barça although not without problems. LaLiga will not allow the player’s new salary to be registered in the B team’s accounts, - he is now considered a first team player because he has played more than 30% of the games with the first team.
Kroos wind-up
Gavi got his first taste of the Clásico during his first season with the senior side. And he was involved in a post-match exchange with Toni Kroos. Immediately after Real Madrid’s 1-2 victory at Camp Nou, the German midfielder posted a photo on his Instagram account of himself with the ball at his feet with Gavi kneeling just behind him. After the Super Cup match in January, Gavi got his own back by uploading a photo - this time of himself on two feet while Kroos left sat on the grass. Madrid also won that game (2-3), so Gavi decided to delete the post soon after and decided to get his revenge out on the pitch rather than on social media. He did so when Barça thrashed Madrid 0-4 at the Bernabéu.
Gavi has started the pre-season in full swing. He was in dazzling form in the friendly against Inter Miami on Tuesday. He scored a great goal from a corner and left a couple of typical moves (similar to the one in the Nations League against Switzerland). In one of them, he set up Memphis, but the striker didn’t take his chance. In another, he won a free-kick and decided to take it himself. He struck the wall, but the way he asked for the ball showed that, in his second season, Gavi is going to be a player to watch out for again. He has earned his stripes - and he wants more. Today’s Clásico will be his coming of age.