Why Barcelona urgently need to improve Gavi’s €300,000 salary
Despite all the difficulties of Barcelona’s 2021/22 season, there have been a few good news stories and the emergence of Gavi has been one of them. The midfielder has made 28 appearances for the first team already, but he is still only 17 years old and he is still being paid like an academy player.
According to El Nacional, the Spanish national team’s youngest ever player is earning approximately €300,000 per year, far less than the rest of the members of Barcelona’s first-team squad. It is time to improve Gavi’s deal, but Barcelona will need to up his salary quite significantly.
According to ESPN, Gavi’s representatives have rejected the first proposal made by Joan Laporta. This is causing some concern at Barcelona, as they know there is interest from the Premier League and specifically from Chelsea.
Gavi was born in June 2004 (!). Important to remember. Another great performance showing his quality & leadership. ⭐️🔵🔴 #FCB
Barcelona are not even worried with Chelsea rumours as he only wants to stay. New contract talks at final stages, €50m release clause will be removed. pic.twitter.com/azWzfs51wc— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 17, 2022
Given that Gavi’s release clause is only €50m right now, Chelsea could easily afford to swoop in and sign him. They’d also have to convince the player and Gavi’s priority is to remain with Barcelona, but it is believed that the youngster from Seville would be willing to leave the Camp Nou if the price and the circumstances are right.
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Laporta wants Gavi to have a contract like Pedri’s or Ansu Fati’s
Laporta wants to pay Gavi what he is worth, but Barcelona’s hands are tied somewhat as they remain over their LaLiga spending limit and that makes any increase in wages difficult to register. This is why there have been so many instances of players taking pay cuts mid-season, in order to remain within LaLiga’s parameters.
There is still confidence at Barcelona that a new deal can be struck and, when it is, Gavi’s release clause will increased from €50m. The recent extensions of Pedri and Ansu Fati are the example to follow, as those two Spain internationals saw their release clauses rise to €1bn.
At Barcelona, nobody is panicking about Gavi yet. Even if Chelsea were to try to pay the player’s release clause, the Blues couldn’t sign him until the summer. That gives Barcelona time to speak with the teenager’s representatives and to find a way to pay the midfielder what he’s worth.
