19-year-old Barcelona sensation seen as a leader of the team, Deco considers him the backbone | OneFootball

Despite being just 19 years of age, Barcelona midfield sensation Gavi has taken over the mantle of being one of the leaders of the team reports Mundo Deportivo’s Fernando Polo.

From teammates to the manager to the sporting department and the fans, everyone loves the La Masia graduate and even rival players such as Dani Carvajal, Joselu, and Alvaro Morata have also praised the youngster while on national team duty with Spain.

Even though he is just 19, Gavi has become one of the faces of this new Barcelona under Xavi and gives his everything on the pitch for the team, which has made him such a hit as well as helped him earn the respect of his teammates and colleagues.

The report highlights several reasons why Gavi has earned the status of a leader at Barcelona, starting with his physical condition, strength, and endurance along with his genetic material which has made him injury-resistant even though he is the player who exerts himself the most on the pitch.

Since Xavi took over, Gavi is one of the players who has played the most minutes and with the highest intensity but has not had any major injuries and is always available, making him a vital player.

Beyond that, the youth academy graduate is also seen as a very complete player, despite there being some room for improvement. The 19-year-old has shown great technical ability and tactical understanding, playing in a variety of positions under Xavi.

At the same time, he has also displayed his ambipedal nature, having scored eight of his 12 career goals with his weaker left foot.

What makes Gavi stand out, though, is his strong personality and intensity. From giving his everything on the pitch to not shying away from pointing out mistakes of senior teammates, the 19-year-old’s sincerity and honest approach, along with his intense persona is appreciated within the dressing room.

Robert Lewandowski took Gavi under his wing as soon as the former joined the club and even though there is a 16-year gap between the two, there is great mutual respect. The Pole sees the youngster as a ‘benchmark’ player and even accepts advice from him on the field.

Sporting director Deco has no doubts about Gavi, his quality, and his importance in the squad. In fact, the former midfielder sees the teenager as the backbone of the team.

The proof of this is that he has him on the list of players he wants to extend his contract, despite the fact that his contract expires in 2026.