Barcelona superstar Gavi's stance revealed amid interest from Chelsea - Reports
Barcelona ace Gavi, who has been strongly linked with a summer switch to Chelsea, reportedly has no desire to leave the Camp Nou.
On Tuesday (April 11), Spanish outlet Diario AS reported that Chelsea had held talks with Gavi’s representatives over a possible move to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
It was reported that the 18-year-old midfielder was annoyed with Barca after they failed to register him as a first-team player in January. Journalist Sique Rodriguez, though, has shot down the reports, claiming that while Gavi could leave Barcelona if he remains unregistered, he has no intention of leaving voluntarily.
Before Gavi was sensationally linked to Chelsea, reports claimed that the youngster was relaxed about his contract situation and wanted to remain at Camp Nou. Rodriguez’s report on Carrusel Deportivo corroborates the claims.
La Masia graduate Gavi made his first-team debut in the 2021-22 season under former coach Ronald Koeman. He has since become an integral part of Barca, regularly featuring in Xavi’s starting XI.
In September 2022, Gavi signed a new contract with Barcelona, but the deal did not go through due to Financial Fair Play restrictions. In January, the Blaugrana received a precautionary measure from the court to register Gavi as a first-team player, giving him the No. 6 jersey.
The registration, though, was overturned shortly after, as it was determined that Barcelona failed to file the paperwork before the transfer window closed on January 31.
Gavi is currently registered as a youth team player and would become a free agent in the summer. Alongside the Blues, Bayern Munich and Manchester City have reportedly taken note of the situation. Barcelona must act promptly in the summer to keep Gavi out of their reach.
Frank Leboeuf urges Hakim Ziyech to leave Chelsea this summer
Former Blues star Frank Leboeuf has advised Hakim Ziyech to leave West London in the summer. Lebouef said that the former Ajax man looks sensational every time he plays for Morocco and seems lost whenever he turns out for the Pensioners.
When asked to name the players who should leave Stamford Bridge this summer, Leboeuf told ESPN:
“Well, definitely Ziyech. The guy is not happy, and he wants to work. Every time he plays for Morocco, he's the best player in the world, and every time he plays for Chelsea, he feels sad and lost. So I wish him to go somewhere else where he can show to the world he's still the Ziyech that we have seen when he played for Ajax.”
Ziyech has played 102 games for Chelsea since his arrival from Ajax in the summer of 2020, scoring 14 times and claiming 11 assists. He has played only 19 games this season across competitions, recording a solitary assist.