Barcelona fan-favourite aiming for starting role vs Levante in possible absence of club captain | OneFootball

According to AS, it has come to light that the possible absence of Frenkie de Jong could open a golden opportunity for Gavi to reclaim his spot in Barcelona’s starting XI against Levante.

It is to be noted that the Dutchman has been unable to train normally this week as he is focused on becoming a father for the second time with his partner, Mikki Kiemeney.

His situation has left Barça monitoring his availability for the next clash, and in the meantime, Gavi is preparing to step in.

The young midfielder has shown clear signs that he is back to full fitness after a long recovery period. In Barcelona’s opening match of the season, Gavi came off the bench and made an instant impact, delivering the assist for Lamine Yamal’s goal.

Flick’s midfield puzzle and Gavi’s determination

During the pre-season, Gavi was one of Barça’s standout performers. He finished as the top scorer of the club’s Asian tour with three goals.

Despite this, Flick has shown great trust in the De Jong–Pedri duo, preferring them as the backbone of his midfield.

Gavi is aiming to be in the starting XI. (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)

That choice has left Gavi starting from the bench in important fixtures such as the Joan Gamper Trophy and the match against Mallorca. However, the 21-year-old is not a player who accepts a secondary role easily.

He believes his recovery phase is firmly behind him, and with De Jong possibly unavailable, he now has the chance to show Flick that he deserves to be part of the first-choice midfield.

At Barcelona, the competition for midfield places is fierce. Gavi’s versatility, energy, and ability to influence games could be exactly what Flick needs to maintain balance in the middle of the pitch.

For now, much depends on De Jong’s availability, but Gavi’s readiness and determination ensure that if called upon, he will do everything to push for a permanent starting place in the team.