Why Gavi Loses First Team Status At Barca & No.6 Shirt

Gavi has officially been stripped of first-team status at Barcelona, amid a contract registration row, and is also having to give up his No.6 shirt.

After agreeing to sign new contracts back in September, the 18-year-old midfielder took over the legendary squad number, which was formerly worn by the current Blaugrana coach Xavi.

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Despite Barca’s ongoing financial difficulties, La Liga is preventing the signing of a new contract.

Gavi, a graduate of La Masia, will have to continue playing for the club in Juvenil A for the time being due to the Catalan giants’ overspending for 2022–23, La Liga confirmed when updating Barcelona’s roster list on their official website.

Gavi will be reverting back to the No.30 jersey that he took on when making a senior breakthrough at Barca – with that step being taken when Xavi’s side return to domestic action after the international break with a trip to Elche on Saturday.

With new contracts for Ronald Araujo, Marcos Alonso, and Sergi Roberto this season, as well as being linked to a stunning move to bring Lionel Messi back to the club as a free agent once his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires, Barcelona are confident that they can make room on their wage bill to register Gavi this summer – despite talk of interest being shown in the youngster from the likes of Bayern Munich.