FC Barcelona now have to face reality moving forward with this season. Gavi, one of Xavi’s most trusted midfielders, will no longer be available for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign. His operation is due next week, and Barcelona hopes it goes well.
To counter this loss, however, Barcelona may have to take a dip in the upcoming transfer window. While previously, no new recruitments for January were expected barring possibly the arrival of Brazilian talent Vitor Roque, it now seems that Xavi has a different idea.
As highlighted by SPORT, the Barcelona coach has requested the arrival of a new interior. Having lost the “heart and soul” of his team in Gavi, Xavi believes an adequate replacement is necessary to keep the team’s overall level from dropping.
Deco had this conversation with Xavi, as per SPORT. It now seems that the Barcelona Director is committed to helping out his coach this January. For now, the proposed idea would be to allocate 80% of Gavi’s salary as a proposal to find a new alternative.
The names on Xavi’s mind were those of Giovani Lo Celso and Guido Rodriguez. Both midfielders hail from Argentina, but one plays for Tottenham Hotspur while the latter plays for Real Betis. Lo Celso’s contract remains in tact until 2025 but the Betis player sees his own expire in the summer of 2024.
The Barcelona coach particularly likes the idea of bringing Lo Celso in. Having little to no prominence at Spurs this season, his acquisition could be beneficial for the player as well. His technical abilities have impressed Xavi in the past and he continues to see him as an attractive option.
In the case of Guido Rodriguez, there is an understanding that he would bring an instant impact. Currently aged 29, he is both experienced and in his prime as a player.
While there is an understanding that he could permanently join Atletico Madrid in the summer, Barcelona could look to negotiate something for the 6 months between January and the summer.
All of this will be assessed by the Barcelona team upstairs, but with a catch. The arrival of Vitor Roque also remains a priority for the Catalan club. The 18-year-old striker is seen as a great solution to Barça’s goalscoring limitations this season.