La Liga midfielder reveals admiration for Barcelona youngster: “Like to have on my team”

Barcelona midfielder Gavi has been in the news recently following last weekend’s El Clasico against Real Madrid.

The 18-year-old, who has become a regular in the side under Xavi , was involved in a bit of an incident involving Dani Ceballos, wherein the youngster went in and barged into the Real Madrid midfielder, off the ball, after the latter had trampled on Robert Lewandowski’s foot.

The incident went unnoticed by the referee, but Real Madrid were quick to point it out and claim that the behaviour from Gavi was ‘unsportsmanlike’.

Furthermore, it was also reported that some Real Madrid players sent messages to their Barcelona counterparts to have a word with the youngster about his behaviour.

Gavi has become known for his aggressive and fearless nature on the pitch and it showed during the Clasico.

While Real Madrid might not have been pleased with it, Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Mikel Merino has claimed that Gavi is a player that he would like to have on his team because of what he brings to the table.

“Players like Gavi are the ones I like to have on my team,” Merino said in an interview on Onda Cero.

Merino and Gavi will play together over the next couple of weeks with the Spanish national team. La Roja will face Norway and Scotland in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Gavi was one of the three Barcelona players to be called up to the Spain squad along with Pedri and Alejandro Balde. However, the former has had to withdraw from the squad due to an injury that will keep him out for another three to four weeks.