Spain’s newest wonderkid set for Barcelona care package
It was a record breaking night for Spain yesterday evening, and in more than one way. Luis Enrique’s La Roja finally ended the 37-match unbeaten run of Roberto Mancini’s vaunted Italian side at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan in a 2-1 UEFA Nations League semi-final win.
La Selección de España, here celebrating their win over Italy today at Botinero in Milano, Javier Zanetti’s restaurant. Relaxed atmosphere looking forward to the final. 🇪🇸📸 🇪🇸 #España
Reaction to Gavi’s performance? “Wow”.
“Los jovenes pa’ abajo eh!”, Busquets. 😄 #SeFutbol pic.twitter.com/WdX0uT1Jt5— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 7, 2021
A brace from Manchester City’s Ferran Torres was the deciding factor in an impressive performance from another young Spanish side under Enrique, who has made a habit of turning to youthful exuberance since taking command of the national team.
While Spain stopped a record breaking run from continuing, but they also were the subject of their own record on the night when Barcelona starlet Gavi became the youngest player to appear for the Iberian nation at just 17-years-old and 62 days while completing 82-minutes against the European champions.
Gavi has already featured on seven occasions for Barcelona this season, including five in La Liga that has come with two selections in Ronald Koeman’s starting XI.
Gavi, more than a wonderkid.
Barcelona board have been working on new contract proposal for weeks. Details: five years deal with salary increasing from year to year. 🇪🇸🌟 #FCBBarça are planning to progress in talks with Gavi soon, as @sport & @adriaalbets reported. ‘Optimism’. pic.twitter.com/PTgy9Uquky
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 7, 2021
After his rapid rise after being promoted from the U19 side this summer, Barça are set to offer the native of Los Palacios y Villafranca a long-term 5-year deal at the Camp Nou.
Gavi to form nucleus at both club and international level
There are few nations that dabble in the fine art of youth production better than Spain, and La Roja are in the midst of another production quota being met.
Gavi is just one of a few youngsters plying their trade at home and abroad that are on the cusp of forming a long-term central core for the Iberian outfit in the not-so-distant future.
SEVILLE, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 27: Pedro Gonzalez Lopez ‘Pedri’ of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga Santander match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on February 27, 2021 in Seville, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Added to the Barcelona teen are two others art the Camp Nou who are not yet at the age of twenty either; Ansu Fati & Pedri, both of whom are just 18.
Pedri already starred for Spain during Euro 2020 while Fati has been capped as well, while Fati is approaching 50-appearances for Barcelona with Pedri having already eclipsed that figure.
With all three youngsters close to being locked-in for the future, Barcelona are not dead yet despite their recent struggles on and off the pitch.
