FC Barcelona have just recently had their pre-season tour of the United States of America concluded as they faced off against Italian outfit AC Milan in the final clash of the tour before returning to Spain.
Now, the Catalan club is preparing for their upcoming bout against English Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur for the annual Joan Gamper trophy before the Blaugranes finally kick off their official campaign for the 2023/2024 season.
Within the squad, almost the entirety of it is set to be available for the clash against Spurs, and Xavi Hernandez will likely be fielding his strongest possible eleven for Barcelona in order to compete to win.
However, there is one specific player who seems slightly unsettled as per Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, who claim that Barcelona youngster Gavi seems to be in an uneasy state of mind following rumors about a potential idea to send him over to PSG along with several other players in a bid to get Mbappe.
Consequently, Xavi Hernandez took it upon himself to converse with the youngster to convince him that these rumors, in particular the one reported by Le Parisien, are nothing but false news and he remains a fundamental part of the Barcelona project moving forward.
The youngster, who just recently turned 19, was already facing a physical setback with back discomfort that kept him from having any minutes during the pre-season tour, and even once he improved in terms of physical recovery Xavi decided not to risk an aggravation of the previous discomfort.
Instead, the Barcelona coach stated that the youngster remains a pivotal part of his project and he would be keeping him rested until the Joan Gamper clash against Spurs, where he would be expected to return:
“He (Gavi) will be fundamental for us. He possesses pure passion, and is a differential football player. It doesn’t change anything, only that he has had a back problem and we have preferred to reserve him for the Gamper. He will be very important for us.”
Gavi remains contracted to Barcelona until 2026 and has an active release clause of €1 billion attached to said contract. The 19-year-old is expected to take part in the clash against the upcoming English opponents on the 8th of August.