Barcelona is nearing completion of a new contract for young midfielder Gavi.
The talented 18-year-old, whose current contract expires next summer, reached an agreement over an extension earlier this year, but plans were delayed because Barcelona was unable to complete it without using their now-famous levers, which included selling shares of the club’s TV and merchandise rights.
While negotiations with Barcelona dragged on, clubs from across Europe contacted Gavi’s camp to express interest. However, reports claim that the La Liga team has long been confident that they would eventually finalise the midfielder’s new contract.
According to sources, Gavi and his agent, Ivan de la Pena, reached a final agreement on an extension on Tuesday morning, and official confirmation of the deal will be forthcoming.
Barcelona have successfully included a release clause in the contract, the same as that of fellow young star Pedri, to keep Gavi from being courted by other teams.
While European powerhouses Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain requested to be kept informed of the situation, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United contacted Gavi’s camp in England. However, De la Pena has clarified that Gavi will not leave Camp Nou.
Gavi is a full Spain international and has made more than 50 appearances for Barcelona despite his young age, which speaks volumes about how highly regarded he is in his native Spain.