Barcelona can't register new Gavi contract

Stuart Telford

• 25 Jan 2023 18:59 GMT
• 3 min read

Gavi signed a new four-year contract with Barcelona which included a €1 billion release clause in September, but the Blaugrana haven't been able to register it with La Liga.

Gavi has emerged as one of the brightest midfield talents in world football at Camp Nou, and succeeded Barca teammate Pedri as European football's Golden Boy in October.

The pair are now first-team regulars under Xavi, and along with Ansu Fati, saw their contracts upgraded last year to include €1bn release clauses - the club having been burned in 2017 when PSG bought out Neymar's contract for what was designed to be a prohibitively expensive €222m.

READ: Gavi twice as valuable as any other U19 in the world after Barcelona masterclass

But with Barca still working to pull clear of the crippling debt which stood at €1.35bn when Lionel Messi followed Neymar to Paris the summer before last, and following this season's group stage exit from the Champions League, Gavi's new deal can't be registered.

Barca bound by La Liga

"In short, Barca will not be able to register the prodigy's new deal, and Gavi must continue playing with the same conditions which he began the season," report Forbes - which also means he will not be able to inherit the No.6, once worn by Xavi, until later.

"Barca originally thought that the departures of Gerard Pique and Memphis Depay would be enough for them to pull off the operation, but they are still having Financial Fair Play problems as their salary limit has been greatly exceeded."

READ: Barcelona’s three January transfer window priorities revealed

Premier League giants Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have previously been linked with moves for Gavi, but Barca have no intention of selling the youngster who is now rated at €81.9m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm.

They may not have to, either. Although Gavi's previous deal expired in the summer of 2023 - meaning clubs from outside of La Liga can start negotiating with the player for a Bosman free transfer - it is understood he remains loyal to the Barca project, and is likely to sign on again when the books are better balanced in June.