Gavi (footballer) explained

Gavi
Full Name:Pablo Martín Páez Gavira
Birth Date:5 August 2004
Height:1.73 m[1]
Position:Central midfielder
Currentclub:Barcelona
Clubnumber:6
Youthyears1:2010–2013
Youthclubs1:La Liara
Youthyears2:2013–2015
Youthclubs2:Betis
Youthyears3:2015–2021
Youthclubs3:Barcelona
Years1:2021
Clubs1:Barcelona B
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–
Clubs2:Barcelona
Caps2:82
Goals2:5
Nationalyears1:2018–2020
Nationalteam1:Spain U15
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2019–2020
Nationalteam2:Spain U16
Nationalcaps2:7
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019–2020
Nationalteam3:Catalonia U16
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2020–2021
Nationalteam4:Spain U18
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2021–
Nationalteam5:Spain
Nationalcaps5:27
Nationalgoals5:5
Club-Update:4 November 2023
Nationalteam-Update:19 November 2023

Pablo Martín Páez Gavira (pronounced as /es/;[2] born 5 August 2004), known as Gavi (pronounced as /es/), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team.[3] [4]

In 2022, Gavi won the Golden Boy award and received the Kopa Trophy, awarded by France Football during the 2022 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Early life

Gavi was born in Los Palacios y Villafranca, Sevilla, Andalusia.[5]

Club career

Early career

Gavi started his career at La Liara Balompié, a club in his hometown, where he spent two years, between 2010 and 2012.[6] From there he moved on to Real Betis's youth academy, where he spent two seasons.[7] [8] He scored 95 goals for the youth team of Real Betis.[9]

Barcelona

Youth career

In 2015, at the age of 11, he signed for Barcelona.[10] [11]

In September 2020, he signed his first professional contract with the Catalan club, and was promoted directly from the under-16 team to the under-19 team.[12] [13] He made his debut for Barcelona B on 21 February 2021, in the 6–0 home routing of L'Hospitalet, coming on as a substitute for Nico González in the 77th minute.[14] He made his first start for Barça B the following 14 March in a 1–0 derby win against Espanyol B at the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque.[15]

2021–22 season

Having featured twice for Barcelona B in the 2020–21 season, Gavi was promoted to the senior squad for pre-season friendlies with the first team ahead of the start of the new season.[16] [17] After good performances in wins against Gimnàstic de Tarragona and Girona, Gavi was reported to have pushed ahead of Riqui Puig in manager Ronald Koeman's squad selection.[18] [19] He continued this good run of form in a 3–0 win against German opposition VfB Stuttgart, earning comparisons with Barcelona legend Xavi.[20] [21]

On 29 August 2021, he played his first official match for Barcelona's first team in the 2–1 La Liga win over Getafe, replacing Sergi Roberto in the 73rd minute. On 18 December, he scored his first goal for the club and provided an assist in the 3–2 home win over Elche.[22]

2022–23 season

On 15 January 2023, Gavi scored a goal and provided two assists to be named man of the match in a 3–1 victory over Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España Final.[23] On 31 January, a Spanish court ruled in favor of accepting Gavi's new contract with Barcelona until 2026, signed in September the previous year, despite opposition from La Liga president Javier Tebas who argued that the new deal would not fit in the club's salary limit that season.[24] On the same day, Barcelona announced that Gavi would acquire the number 6 shirt, previously worn by his coach Xavi.[25] On 21 March, a court ruling ordered that the new deal to be revoked as it would exceed the club's salary limit, and a return to his previous enrolment as a youth-team player with his old number 30 shirt.[26] [27] [28]

On 20 June 2023, Barcelona managed to complete Gavi's registration to La Liga as a first-team player, subsequently extended his contract with Barcelona until June 2026, which contains a release clause of €1bn.[29]

International career

Gavi has represented Spain at under-15 and under-16 level.[9]

On 30 September 2021, Gavi received a surprise call-up to the senior Spain national team by the manager Luis Enrique. He made his debut in their UEFA Nations League semi-final win against Italy on 6 October, becoming the youngest player to ever represent Spain at senior level.[30] [31] In the final against France on 10 October, Spain ultimately suffered a 2–1 defeat.[32] On 5 June 2022, he scored his first senior goal in the Nations League away against the Czech Republic, becoming the youngest player to ever score representing Spain at senior level.[33]

Gavi was named in Spain's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, in which he started in all four matches.[34] With his goal against Costa Rica in Spain's first game of the tournament, Gavi became the third youngest player (only behind Pelé and Manuel Rosas) to score in a World Cup match.[35]

On 15 October 2023, Gavi scored the only goal in a 1–0 away win over Norway during the Euro 2024 qualifying, securing his national team's qualification to the major tournament.[36] A month later, on 19 November, he sustained an ACL injury in his right knee and a damaged meniscus during a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against Georgia, with fears it would force him to miss both the Euro 2024 finals and the 2024 Olympic Games for Spain.[37]

Style of play

Graham Hunter of ESPN hailed Gavi as a highly promising young player in 2021, comparing him to former Barcelona midfielders Xavi and Andrés Iniesta due to his qualities as a footballer, including his dribbling, anticipation, intelligence, vision, passing, first touch, close control, change of pace, and ability to turn quickly to get out of tight spaces and initiate counter-attacks.[38] Following his performance in Spain's semi-final victory over Italy in the 2021 Nations League Finals, Italian defender Emerson Palmieri described Gavi as a player who "has huge potential".[31]

Career statistics

Club

[39]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCopa del ReyEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barcelona B2020–21Segunda División B2020
2021–22Primera División RFEF1010
Total3030
Barcelona2021–22La Liga3421011010472
2022–23La Liga362506021493
2023–24La Liga121003100152
2024-25La Liga 0000000000
Total82560201311117
Career total85560201311147

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain202140
2022133
2023102
Total275

Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Gavi goal

List of international goals scored by Gavi
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
15 June 2022Sinobo Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic81–12–22022–23 UEFA Nations League A[40]
217 November 2022Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan132–03–1Friendly[41]
323 November 2022Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar145–07–02022 FIFA World Cup[42]
412 September 2023Nuevo Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain231–06–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying[43]
515 October 2023Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway251–01–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying[44]

Honours

Barcelona

2022–23[45]

2023[46]

Spain

2022–23

Individual

2022[47]

2022[48]

2022,[49] 2023[50]

2021–22[53]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gavi 2022/2023 player page Midfielder . FC Barcelona Official website . 2022-12-03 . en.
  2. In isolation, Martín and Gavira are pronounced pronounced as /es/ and pronounced as /es/ respectively.
  3. Web site: 17 June 2022 . Camavinga and Gavi fight it out for the Golden Boy Award . 18 June 2022 . Marca.
  4. Web site: Williams . George . 4 April 2022 . Gavi collects the 'Next Generation' award as the third best young player in the world . 18 June 2022 . Sports Finding.
  5. Web site: "El equipo de Gavi". "Gavi's Team" . Cristina . Navarro . 6 September 2021 . 3 August 2022 . Marca . Spanish.
  6. Web site: Gavi: The FC Barcelona youngster with undone laces who was 'born' for the big stage . Simon . Hart . 8 December 2021 . 3 August 2022 . inews.co.uk.
  7. Web site: La Liara reivindica a Gavi: "Era Oliver Atom". La Liara vindicates Gavi: "He was Oliver Atom" . 8 October 2021. 8 October 2021 . Rafael . Cala . estadiodeportivo.com . Spanish.
  8. Web site: A special fixture for Gavi . 6 May 2022 . 3 August 2022 . FC Barcelona.
  9. Web site: Gavi, el maestro de La Masía. Gavi, the maestro of La Masía . Alicia . Navarro . 4 December 2018 . 2 August 2021 . vavel.com . Spanish.
  10. Web site: FC Barcelona Preseason Has Seen Coach Ronald Koeman Find New 'Golden Boys' . Tom . Sanderson . 30 July 2021 . 2 August 2021 . forbes.com.
  11. News: Scouting report on Pablo Paez 'Gavi' - the little maestro from La Masia . Jacek . Kulig . 19 May 2020 . 2 August 2021 . tribuna.com.
  12. News: Young star Gavi signs new contract with Barcelona . 7 September 2020 . 2 August 2021 . sport.es.
  13. News: Gavi: La Masia wonderkid set to be the future of Barcelona's midfield . Adrià . Soldevila . 3 June 2021 . 2 August 2021 . goal.com.
  14. News: Gavi becomes 14th Under-19s player to debut for Barça B under Garcia Pimienta . 22 February 2021 . FC Barcelona . 24 November 2021.
  15. Web site: La fiesta 'juvenil' del Barça B hunde al RCD Espanyol B . Albert . Rogé . 14 March 2021 . 24 November 2021 . sport.es . Spanish.
  16. Web site: Gavi, Demir & the Barcelona wonderkids impressing Koeman in pre-season . Rik . Sharma . 2 August 2021 . 2 August 2021 . goal.com.
  17. News: Gavi, puro arte y mucho duende . German . Bona . 17 July 2021 . 2 August 2021 . sport.es . Spanish.
  18. Web site: Gavi se creció entre los mayores en su debut . Ferran . Martínez . 22 July 2021 . 2 August 2021 . mundodeportivo.com . Spanish.
  19. News: Koeman Prefers Barcelona Teen To Riqui Puig: Report . Gill . Clark . 27 July 2021 . 2 August 2021 . heavy.com.
  20. News: 16-year-old Barca kid Gavi stuns fans with fantastic performance, gets compared to Xavi . Kosta . König . 2 August 2021 . 2 August 2021 . tribuna.com.
  21. News: Gavi & a delicate touch that showed he could well be Barcelona's new Xavi . Joshua . Law . 2 August 2021 . 2 August 2021 . planetfootball.com.
  22. News: First goals for Gavi and Jutglà . FC Barcelona . 18 December 2021 . 19 December 2021.
  23. Web site: Barcelona ease past Real Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup as PSG lose again . The Guardian . 15 January 2023 .
  24. Web site: Marsden . Sam . Llorens . Moises . Court ruling allows Barcelona to register Gavi's new contract; LaLiga to appeal . ESPN . 31 January 2023 .
  25. Web site: Gavi to wear the number 6 jersey for Barça . FC Barcelona . 31 January 2023 .
  26. Web site: Marsden . Sam . Llorens . Moises . Barcelona to appeal court's decision to reverse Gavi's registration - source . ESPN . 21 March 2023 .
  27. Web site: Ballús . Pol . Gavi could leave Barcelona for free after court ruling . 2023-03-27 . The Athletic . en.
  28. Web site: Dear Gavi, here's why you should join [insert club name] on a free transfer ]. 2023-03-27 . The Athletic . en.
  29. Web site: 2023-06-21 . Barcelona complete Gavi registration with La Liga . 2023-06-22 . OneFootball . en.
  30. Web site: Italy 1 Spain 2 . 6 October 2021 . BBC Sport . 7 October 2021.
  31. Web site: How 17-year-old Gavi became Spain's present and future . ESPN . Lowe . Sid . 8 October 2021 . 11 October 2021.
  32. Web site: Spain vs. France – Football Match Report . ESPN . 10 October 2021 . 10 October 2021.
  33. Web site: Gavi becomes youngest ever goalscorer for Spanish national side . 6 June 2022 . FC Barcelona . 12 June 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220612202223/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/2640386/gavi-becomes-youngest-ever-goalscorer-for-spanish-national-side . 12 June 2022.
  34. Web site: Spain at the 2022 World Cup: who is in Luis Enrique's 26-man squad? . Reuters . 14 November 2022 . 2 December 2022.
  35. Web site: The Youngest Players to Score at a World Cup. Matt. Furniss. 23 November 2022. 23 January 2023. The Analyst.
  36. Web site: Norway 0-1 Spain: Gavi goal seals qualification for La Roja and secures Scotland’s spot at Euro 2024 . Eurosport . 16 October 2023 .
  37. Web site: Sanderson . Tom . FC Barcelona Star Gavi Tears ACL And Is Out For Rest Of Season, AS Reports . Forbes . 19 November 2023 . 20 November 2023 .
  38. Web site: Ansu Fati and Gavi are Barcelona's future rising from the depths of a lost season . ESPN . Hunter . Graham . 28 September 2021 . 13 February 2022.
  39. Web site: Gavi: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 13 August 2022.
  40. Web site: Czech Republic vs. Spain 2–2: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 13 August 2022.
  41. Web site: Jordan vs. Spain 1–3: Summary. Soccerway.
  42. Web site: Spain vs. Costa Rica 7–0: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 23 November 2022.
  43. Web site: Spain vs. Cyprus 6–0: Summary. Soccerway.
  44. Web site: Spain vs. Norway 1–0: Summary. Soccerway.
  45. News: FC Barcelona, Liga champions 2022/23! . FC Barcelona . 14 May 2023.
  46. News: Spanish Super Cup: Barcelona beat Real Madrid . BBC Sport . 15 January 2023.
  47. Web site: 25 October 2022. Gavi (Barça), vainqueur du Trophée Kopa 2022 . 25 October 2022. l'équipe.
  48. Web site: 21 October 2022. DIRETTA Il Golden Boy 2022 è Gavi!. 21 October 2022. Tuttosport.
  49. Web site: IFFHS MEN'S WORLD YOUTH (U20) TEAM 2022. 12 January 2023.
  50. Web site: 5 January 2024. IFFHS MEN'S YOUTH (U20) WORLD TEAM 2023. 5 January 2024. IFFHS.
  51. Web site: IFFHS MEN'S CONTINENTAL YOUTH (U20) TEAMS 2022 - UEFA. 26 January 2023.
  52. Web site: IFFHS MEN'S YOUTH (U20) UEFA TEAM 2023 . 5 February 2024.
  53. Web site: Alexia and Gavi receive the Aldo Rovira award for the 2021/22 season. FCBarcelona. 9 February 2023. fcbarcelona. English. 10 February 2023.