Two roles that injured Barcelona wonderkid can play in Flick’s team

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder #06 Gavi arrives before the start of the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on October 22, 2023.

Photo by JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images

There are several new arrivals that FC Barcelona are working to obtain in the upcoming summer transfer window to reinforce the weak areas in the squad, but face a difficult scenario in this aspect because of their FFP problems.

However, one reinforcement they can get without spending any money is the midfielder Gavi, who spent much of the last season in the infirmary, as the 19-year-old suffered a torn ACL back in November while playing with Spain.

The midfielder is expected to get back to action in the upcoming season, and as SPORT has noted, he will be a player that fits in well with Hansi Flick’s game plan. There are two roles in particular that he can play under the German tactician.

One of the most prominent characteristics of Flick’s Bayern Munich team that won the sextuple was its tendency to press high up the pitch. Lewandowski and Müller were the two players who initiated this pressure whenever Bayern lost the ball.

In Barcelona, Gavi can play the role that Thomas Muller played in Flick’s Bayern team, as he has the technical quality, goal-scoring ability, and the legs to play such a role.

Secondly, Gavi can also serve as a replacement for Frenkie de Jong whenever the Dutchman is unavailable to play as one of the two pivots. De Jong will take on the role that Leon Goretzka played at Flick’s Bayern, covering a lot of ground. Gavi, with his unlimited stamina, can also excel in this capacity.

For now, FC Barcelona’s only concerns regarding Gavi are about his physical condition, as he will be making his return from a serious knee injury after a significant period of time.

Keeping in view his situation, the Spaniard will enter Flick’s plans gradually in the first part of the season, so he can get back into his best shape as the decisive matches approach later in the campaign.