Gavi is one of those footballers who leaves no one indifferent. If he defends your team's badge, you'll end up falling in love with him. On the other hand, if you have him as a rival, something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, you'll hate him to death. That's why all the detractors from Los Palacios are starting to feel a certain discomfort with the preseason the Andalusian midfielder is having. In fact, his has been one of the standout names of the Asian tour that FC Barcelona has just completed in Korea and Japan. The debut of the blaugrana team was eagerly awaited, especially to see newcomers like Rashford, Bardghji, or Joan García in action, and also to enjoy the new gems from La Masia, such as Dro, Jofre Torrents, or Guille and Toni Fernández. However, when it came down to it, one of those who excelled the most was Gavi.
The Seville native has returned to Barcelona with the rest of the culé squad as the top scorer of the preseason, scoring three goals in the three friendlies played by Flick's team. But above the numbers, and even more important, is the feeling that his form is starting to resemble what it was before he suffered a serious knee injury. Last season was his return to the field, the ovation at Montjuïc on his comeback, and the feeling of his drive on the field in moments when the team faltered. However, Gavi still wasn't in a position to compete for a starting spot with Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Fermín, or Dani Olmo. However, the matches in Korea and Japan have made it clear that the pivot and attacking midfield positions have a new candidate, one who, the moment he gets the slightest chance to claim the spot, will give everything for it.
For Hansi Flick, without a doubt, this is great news. The German coach has always been very supportive of Gavi. He knows the Andalusian has had a very tough time with his serious injury, that many who've suffered it have never returned to the level they showed before, which is why last season it was common for the former Bayern coach to always keep a close eye on his young protégé. Now, the way the player from Los Palacios has started the season is a great joy for the manager, who finds himself with the welcome problem of having many quality players for just a few positions on the field.
We all agree that earning a starting spot in Barça's midfield is extremely difficult. At the same time, you can never have too many options in that area. The season is very long and packed with matches. Having a profile like Gavi's, with good ball circulation, late runs into the box, ease of linking up, and tremendous intensity, is invaluable. Moreover, if the Seville native is able to return to his pre-injury form as he has shown this preseason, then it'll be very difficult to take him out of the starting eleven in important matches. His detractors are starting to break out in a cold sweat, maybe pinching themselves hoping it's just a nightmare, anything but imagining that the best version of Gavi could be back.