Why does Gavi have two different Barcelona shirt numbers?

Robin Bairner

• 4 Feb 2023 12:32 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona star Gavi finds himself in the unusual position of having two squad numbers in the 2022/23 season.

He started the campaign wearing the No.30 jersey, but this was switched to the No.6 for domestic competitions by Barcelona at the end of the January transfer window.

However, the 18-year-old will still wear the No.30 shirt when the Blaugrana tackle Manchester United in the Europa League.

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Gavi has worn the No.30 shirt since he broke into the Barcelona first team in the 2021/22 season but it was switched in January 2023, when he officially became registered as a top-team player by the club.

At this point, Barca gave him the iconic No.6 shirt. This was a symbolic gesture as it was the jersey worn by Xavi for 13 seasons. Gavi is seen as the current head coach’s heir at Camp Nou, and this move served to underline it.

Barcelona would have given him the shirt earlier, but they were locked in a battle to get his contract ratified by the league. It took an appeal via court for them to finally register the teenager as a first-team player, which then allowed them to change his squad number.

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Why is Gavi’s squad number in Europe different from LaLiga?

Gavi will wear the No.6 domestically for the remainder of the season, but he will remain in the No.30 shirt for European football.

There is a simple explanation for this, which is that UEFA do not allow players to change squad number in the middle of the season if they remain with the same club.

As Gavi started the 2022/23 campaign wearing the No.30 shirt, he is obliged to wear the jersey for the remainder of Barcelona’s European matches.

Of course, assuming Barcelona qualify for European football next season – which looks almost certain – Gavi will be able to switch back to his favoured No.6 on the continent at that point.