La Liga has removed wonderkid midfielder Gavi from the Barcelona first team squad on their official website, as the row over his proposed new contract between Liverpool and Manchester United continues
In September, Barcelona offered the 18-year-old a new four-year contract that included a €1 billion buyout clause and the promise that the midfielder would wear the number six shirt previously worn by Xavi.
Gavi was on a youth team contract at the time the contract was offered, and The Athletic reported that another clause in the proposed contract stated that the Spain international could leave Camp Nou if he was not registered as a first team player by June 30, 2023.
Barcelona requested a legal ruling in January allowing them to register the midfielder. According to the above report, La Liga previously denied the registration, stating that the club was in violation of their salary regulations.
A court then issued an injunction, allowing Xavi’s side to register Gavi.
They later agreed in La Liga’s favor after the league claimed that Barcelona had submitted legal papers in a separate case involving the contract, which was due to reach a permanent decision on the player’s status, too late.
In even worse news for the Spanish giants, their appeal to register Gavi was rejected by the courts this week, according to ESPN, and now La Liga has taken a less significant but notable step.
La Liga has removed Gavi from the Barcelona squad list on their official website, which lists the first team players of each of the division’s 20 clubs.
It’s the latest twist in the feud between the league and Barcelona, and it leaves Gavi’s future uncertain.
It remains to be seen whether he will leave the club this summer, though the Spanish giants have a 20-day window to appeal the court’s decision to prevent them from registering the Spain star. They have informed The Athletic that they intend to pursue additional legal action.
Should Gavi leave Camp Nou, he will undoubtedly attract interest from some of Europe’s most powerful clubs.
Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United have all been linked with a move for the 18-year-old, who is still under contract with Barcelona and can play for them as normal.
The opportunity to sign him on a free transfer would result in a massive scramble for his services, though Barcelona appears set to continue their legal battle to register Gavi before June 30.
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