Gavi: Mom worries when I fight but it's football; I'll do everything for Barca
GAVI TALKS XAVI, FRENKIE DE JONG, PEDRI, FATI, FELIX, CANCELO, INIESTA, BARCELONA CAREER
One of the faces of Xavi’s Barcelona at just 19 years of age, Gavi has become an integral member of the first-team setup at the Catalan club since bursting onto the scenes in 2021.
A product of the club’s La Masia academy, Gavi lives and breathes Barcelona and gives everything for the team when on the pitch, which is what endears him to the Culers.
The Spanish international, known to be shy off the pitch, recently sat down for a lengthy interview with La Vanguardia, during which he discussed several aspects of his career at Barça and his teammates.
The Beginnings…
Gavi joined Barcelona’s La Masia academy back when he was 11 years old, moving from Seville. Looking back at his early days at the club, the teenager admitted that the switch was a daunting one for him, saying:
“I remember that two months before I told my parents that I didn’t want to come, that I was afraid of coming across anything. Today I thank my parents, they were the first ones to make it clear that they had to bring me here.”
“I was very young and I didn’t want to leave my town, to be separated from my friends. It was a total change of life.”
But, the youngster admitted that La Masia ended up becoming his home, as he said: “I’ve spent all my childhood here, almost as long as I’ve been aware of it, it’s everything to me.”
After arriving, Gavi could not play for six months with the youth teams due to FIFA sanctions on Barcelona. The youngster revealed that it was a difficult phase for him as he always wanted to play and as such went and joined the futsal team at his local school during that time.
When asked who he used to idolise at the time, Gavi replied: “Above all Iniesta, but also Isco and Verratti.”
On his role and Xavi’s influence
The 19-year-old midfield prodigy is equally good with his right and left foot, and admitted that it has always come naturally to him, saying: “When I was a kid, it came naturally to me. In fact, I always say that in the penalty area, I shoot better with my left foot, it comes naturally to me.”
On his favoured position on the field, Gavi revealed he always prefers to play as the left central midfielder, saying: “I always have been, inside left.”
But there have been occasions when Xavi has utilised him as a false winger on the left flank, although recent games have seen Gavi play more in his preferred role.
“Xavi already knows where I’m most comfortable, but he always trusts me a lot and in every game, he decides where I play and I try to do well for the coach. I try to give my all,” he said.
Gavi also touched upon the improvements he has made in his game over the past year, saying: “Compared to last year, I’ve improved my timing, and I’ve also improved my ability to get to the ball without fouling so much.”
And revealing Xavi’s influence in the improvement, he said: “Xavi tries to improve me, he talks to me a lot.”
There had been talk of Gavi dropping down the pecking order this season following the summer signings of Ilkay Gundogan and Oriol Romeu. But he is now a regular fixture in the side. On what he thought of the situation, the Golden Boy said:
“I have a lot of confidence in myself, that’s what matters to me. And Xavi insists on talking, on improving me, and I’m grateful for that. The coach has been one of the best players in history in my position.”
Gavi has earned a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve during matches and giving his everything on the pitch.
It has also led to rival media branding him a ‘rough’ footballer as was the case last year. When asked if it was a problem for him, the youngster revealed that Xavi helped him through the situation, saying:
“I was aware of it, but I was calm. Xavi helped me and I didn’t care what certain people said.”
On whether he considers himself a ‘rough’ footballer, Gavi said: “I consider myself a fighter, to the end, and I will never lose that.”
“Sometimes I watch a replay of the game, I look at a certain action and I think: “Holy shit, how did I think of doing that? But my mother suffers more than me, she always tells me not to get into fights and she gets really scared. But in the end, it’s football.”
Teammates, targets, and playing for Barcelona…
As has been seen on a couple of occasions this season, Gavi gets all furious when Barcelona let in a goal or fail to win.
The midfielder admitted that he has always been a ‘bad loser’ although he is improving on that facet in recent years.
“Well, I’ve improved compared to the lower categories. Any coach could tell you that… Let’s say that I had it pretty bad and my teammates paid for it in the training sessions. I was losing my head, I was bad at losing,” he said.
On what was he prepared to do for Barcelona, Gavi said: “Everything, I would do everything, anything,” showing his love and affection for the team.
Gavi lives and breathes Barcelona.
It shows in the way he celebrates every time he scores a goal, kissing the club badge with great passion. When asked where this love for the club comes from, Gavi said:
“It comes from watching the best team in history, the Barça of Xavi, Iniesta and company. From then on I’m a Barça fan and I always will be.”
Despite being just 19 years old, Gavi is already a player that some of the young talents like Lamine Yamal look up to. On what it means for him to help younger players, he said:
“I wouldn’t have imagined it when I was little, but yes. I try to reassure them, to encourage them. I had Busi, Jordi [Alba]… I know it’s very important to feel that support.”
When asked who he admires the most in the dressing room, Gavi replied: “I admire Frenkie. When it was said that he could leave I was absolutely gutted and I told him so. Thank goodness he didn’t leave and is still with us.”
When asked if the Dutchman’s absence due to injury is being felt, he said: “Damn, quite a lot, just like Pedri.”
On whether he is enjoying playing for Barcelona, Gavi stated: “Especially this season I’m enjoying it a lot more. We are doing things better.”
The Golden Boy also highlighted the impact made by new signings Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo, saying:
“They are both very good and have adapted quickly. João Félix is on my wing and I can associate more with him, but I look for both of them. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to win a game this season.”
Gavi also spoke about Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati, saying that he expects the 20-year-old to be back at the club after his stint at Brighton.
“I see Ansu well. I’m convinced that he will regain his confidence and hopefully, he will come back to us. We’ve been friends since we met at La Masia and I want him to always be well,” said Gavi.
On their arch-rivals Real Madrid, he said: “They have some important absentees. But they are always a winning club.”
Gavi also outlined Barcelona’s ambitions for the season, especially in the UEFA Champions League, saying: “We have to go as far as possible, we are Barça, as the coach says. Winning it with Barça is one of my dreams, if not the first, it’s what all the Culés dream of.”
On his own personal targets for the campaign, he revealed that he wants to score ten goals this season.
“With Iván de la Peña, my agent, we’ve talked about reaching ten. I’ve already scored two,” he said.
Signing off, when asked if he could imagine spending his entire career. Gavi replied: “I wish I could be like that, I won’t be happier than at Can Barça.”