Spanish La Liga leaders Barcelona have been dealt a blow in their playing staff after a judge in Barcelona’s Commercial Court cancelled Pabro Martin Gavira aka Gavi’s contract registration on Monday.
Gavi signed a contract extension with Barcelona last year in September, but the Catalans have been having trouble registering his new terms with La Liga due to the club’s financial troubles. Gavi’s new contract will see the youngster earn €8 million ($8.6 million) a year with a €1 billion release clause, but the Catalan giants have been told to shed off over €200 million from their wage bill already.
A judge previously ruled in Barca’s favour on deadline day in the recent January transfer window, which allowed them to register Gavi’s contract but according to Spanish sports website Relevo, yesterday’s ruling lifted a precautionary measure that forced La Liga to register Gavi’s new contract with Barcelona because the club filed its claim with the court after the deadline.
After that initial registration, Gavi was even handed the iconic number ‘6’ shirt once donned by current head coach Xavi Hernandez.
Barcelona can appeal this ruling but as things stand, Gavi could leave his youthful club for free in the summer with Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Liverpool, whose books of accounts look healthy reportedly interested in the 18-year-old Spain international.
