6 is Xavi’s emblematic number. For fourteen years the current coach wore that number, which identifies him, in the same way that he is the greatest representative and also the most remembered, that shirt. 6 will become Gavi’s 6, to dignify it and give it a long life from January. And, if it could be, that it accompanies him with as many successes as his most illustrious predecessor.
Barça has reserved that shirt for him and, incidentally, closes a circle. Before Xavi, the last bearer of the 6 was Ivan de la Pena Gavi’s agent, whom he recruited, cared for and represented, in this order, that 11-year-old boy from Seville who is actually called Pablo Martin Paez Gavira and that he stood out in the Betis youth academy for his goalscoring ability.
It was fry. And being a youth, and still a minor, he made his debut last season in the Barça first team. With 30 on his back. He will continue to wear it until January, because that number 6, since Xavi hung it, has passed from body to body (those of Dani Alves, Denis Suárez, Jean-Clair Todibo, Carles Aleñà, Riqui Puig and Miralem Pjanic) and has been used in the beginning of the League.
Pjanic’s shirt
Virtually, of course. It was awarded to Pjanic. She didn’t even debut with him. After four games, he moved to Sharjah, a club from the United Arab Emirates. Xavi started with 29, the first and only time he was called up in the 97-98 season, he moved up to 26 upon promotion to the first team, then dropped to 16 until he had enough seniority to claim the one he wanted.
Gavi has taken much less time to acquire the 6. One year. So it was an emergency resource, beyond attracting the attention of Ronald Koeman for his talent, which he accompanies with a unique liveliness and predisposition for pressure. Now, three coaches and ten months later, international and of legal age, he acquires the status of a first-team footballer.
I already had that category, which will now be official. The contract has been renewed for months, but the signing has been delayed due to the club’s interest in being able to handle the bloody salary limit. That for one thing. And on the other hand, for the consideration that Gavi has in the bowels of Sant Joan Despí. Starting with the original 6. “It’s a heart with legs” says Xavi, amazed by the tenacity and enthusiasm that he puts into each action. He does not distinguish between a training session and a game. Just what coaches want.
The 6, the 8, the 10, the 4…
And to Xavi, who urgent renewal of Gavi in December, His face lights up seeing that the project that Barça is building is beginning to rise. With Gavi he has 6, even if he wears 30. Pedri is the 8, with what is drawn in his mind the reissue of 6 and 8 that he formed with Iniesta. Ansu Fati inherited the 10 you know who. Ronald Araujo wears 4 and also opened the Camp Nou. The oldest, who is Uruguayan, is 23 years old. They all have the value of the 1,000 million that appear in their clauses. Ferran wears 11 and Nico González who knows if it will be 5 when he returns from Valencia.
Like Ansu and Nico, Gavi started in Sant Despí on the road to what it is now. An older footballer. Older and bigger in size, absolute international since last year.
Luis Enrique took him the selection between disbelief, astonishment and, why not say it, a certain annoyance in some media. Another Barça player, semi-unknown, ahead of according to whom. Unaware, of course, that Luis Enrique knew about the adventures of grassroots football of the small player (he is 1.73 m tall and weighs 70 kg), also popular among the coaches who had him because he never buttoned his boots. There are photos that testify to the untied laces playing in the First Division.
Records with Spain
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Two miscounted days after debuting with Barça –The very brief period that goes from August 29 to September 30, he also debuted with the national team. On October 6 he started against Italy in the semifinal of the League of Nations at the age of 17 years and 62 days, beating a precocity record dating from 1936 (Ángel Zubieta, 17 years and 284 days). On June 5, with his first goal with Spain, he surpassed Ansu Fati’s record by four days: 17 years and 304 days.
At 16 (August 4, 2021) he had appeared for the first time in a pre-season friendly against Red Bull. He suffered a broken jaw. Painful premiere. And yet he has never backed down. Not even to gain momentum.