‘Mediocre’ Gavi Is ‘Not FC Barcelona Level’: Ex-Presidential Candidate

Former FC Barcelona presidential candidate and football agent Jose Maria Minguella has doubled down on comments stating that Gavi does not have the required level to play for the Catalan club.

Earlier this week, Minguella appeared on Beteve‘s La Porteria program and asked: “What does Gavi bring to Barca’s game?” before adding, “Gavi is not a player for Barca”.

On the Onze program shown by TV3 in Catalonia on Thursday, Minguella reiterated his remarks and claimed that: “Almost everyone agrees with what I said.”

“Gavi is a player who comes to the first team in very complicated circumstances, and with his fight and the mediocrity that exists in the center of the field he gets a place in the team.

“I started in football with [Ladislao] Kubala and continued with a number of players like [Diego] Maradona, Romario, [Hristo] Stoichkov… and this is the level I want for Barca,” Minguella stressed.

“Gavi is very honest and very dedicated, but he is not at the level of Barca.”

Minguella went on by comparing Gavi to Real Madrid rival Fede Valverde. “He is the third player who has played the most and has only scored two goals… on an offensive team. It is proof that he has shortcomings. If you only dedicate yourself to breaking the opponent’s game, you don’t do all the [ necessary] work.

“I don’t want to compare, but Valverde, the puncher, always comes into the box and scores goals. In my opinion, I would still take Gavi for an English team, but in a team where midfielders have to score goals…,” Minguella trailed off.

Minguella conceded that Gavi is still improving at 18 years of age, but his criticism won’t help morale at a time when the winner of the Golden Boy award is being approached by Chelsea to join them on a free transfer this summer according to AS.

Though Minguella – who lost the presidential election in 2003 and 2010 and took part in the signings of his mentioned trio of Maradona, Romario and Stoichkov – has been around the game and its greats, his remarks should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Granted Gavi can be a little physical and has to learn the right time to charge in all guns blazing and watch his yellow card tally which has led to suspensions at important times this season, it is not just anyone who breaks into the first team of one of the biggest clubs in the world irrespective of Barca’s financial difficulties and their recent, difficult history.