Gavi and Vinicius Jr. spent large parts of the match provoking and challenging each other during physical duels and heated exchanges. The pair repeatedly crossed paths throughout the game, with frustrations growing as the intensity increased. After the match, Gavi admitted he had told Vinicius to "shut up" after the Real Madrid winger attempted to provoke Barcelona supporters by gesturing about the club's Champions League success.
I'm happy with Marcus, he plays well. The last few weeks he's had problems, he's been injured, so it's an opportunity for him. There are other options, Fermín, Gavi. I'm happy that Gavi is at a great level.
We have spoken with Gavi on different occasions. I sent him a message of joy and congratulations when he returned to play. He is a very special player for us.
As excitement over Gavi's return to the pitch grows, a recent report from Diario SPORT has revealed an interesting anecdote from 2023. The report reveals that Gavi was close to joining European rivals Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, as Barcelona were desperate to keen on signing Fabian Ruiz. PSG had offered both Ruiz and Marco Verratti in exchange for Gavi. It was a direct swap deal, with no cash involved.
I see [Gavi] almost every day. He's training and improving a lot. The most important thing for him is to stay calm and take it one step at a time. There's no need to rush. He has a long career ahead of him, and there's no need to hurry. If he comes back in February, we'll be happy, but for me, the important thing is that he comes back healthy.
Instead of analysing current form or picking the best players available today, Gavi decided to look back. He challenged himself to build a starting XI made up exclusively of teammates he had played alongside during his formative years at Barcelona. The selection was not guided by tactics, status, or present-day performance. It was built from memory, emotion, and shared moments inside the dressing room at La Masia and during his first steps as a professional footballer.
It has been a long wait. The last time Barcelona played at their iconic stadium was on May 28, 2023, in a La Liga fixture against Mallorca. That day, the Catalans celebrated a comfortable 3-0 victory, with Gavi himself on the scoresheet. Few knew then that this would be the final time the team would step foot on the old Camp Nou before the massive redevelopment project began.
