La Liga have removed wonderkid midfielder Gavi from the Barcelona first team squad on their official website, as the controversy over his proposed new contract continues.
In September, Barca presented the 18-year-old with a new four-year contract that included a €1bn buyout clause and the assurance that the midfielder would receive the number six jersey that had previously belonged to Xavi.
The Athletic reported that another condition in the proposed contract stated that the Spain international may leave Camp Nou if he was not registered as a first team player by June 30, 2023.
At the time the contract was offered, Gavi was on a youth team contract.
Will Gavi Leave Barcelona?
Barca sought a legal ruling allowing them to sign the midfielder in January. La Liga had earlier denied the registration, telling the club that they were in violation of their salary regulations.
A court then imposed a legal injunction which allowed Xavi’s side to register Gavi.
However, they later agreed in La Liga’s favour when the league claimed that Barca submitted legal papers over a separate case involving the contract, which was due to come to a permanent decision over the player’s status, too late.
In even worse news for the Spanish giants, the club saw their appeal to register Gavi rejected by the courts this week, as reported by ESPN – and now La Liga have taken less significant but notable action.
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On their official website, which lists the first team players of each of the division’s 20 clubs, La Liga removed Gavi from the Barcelona squad list.
It is the latest development in the row between the league and Barca, and leaves Gavi’s future steps uncertain.
Whether he does decide to leave the club this summer remains to be seen, although the Spanish giants do have a 20-day window in which to appeal the court’s decision to block them from registering the Spain star.
They have told The Athletic that they are seeking further legal action.
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