The Spanish club Barcelona dealt a blow to the efforts of Manchester City and Liverpool to sign the young Catalan midfielder Gavi.
Gavi was promoted to the Barcelona first team on August 29, and he played his first match against Getafe in the Spanish league, then signed his first goal against Elche in the league, last December.
Gavi joined the Spain squad for the first time under coach Luis Enrique last September, in the UEFA Nations League semi-final match against Italy, which was held on October 6, and was his first at the international level.
Reports from England over the past few days confirmed the admiration of Man City coach Pep Guardiola, and his counterpart at Anfield Road, Jurgen Klopp, with the capabilities of the 17-year-old Jaffe, and their desire to include him.
The delay in renewing Barcelona’s contract with Jaffe, and the presence of a penalty clause in his contract worth 50 million euros, motivated the English duo to seriously consider his inclusion.
In this context, the Spanish newspaper “Marca” indicated in a report that Gavi ’s contract with Barcelona, signed in September 2020, includes a clause to raise the value of the penalty clause in his contract from 50 to 100 million euros, by the month of June, which will make it difficult to buy it by City and Liverpool. .
According to the newspaper, the penalty clause of 50 million euros in the contract of the young Spanish international rose automatically in the current month of June to 100 million euros, according to the player’s contract with Barcelona, which he signed in September 2020, which provides for the increase in the penalty clause for weakness at the beginning of the third year of the contract. .
The major clubs in Europe do not spend 100 million on a non-scorer player, especially if he is a newcomer, despite the fact that he has made a remarkable appearance, whether in the Barcelona shirt or the Spanish national team.
And Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona, confirmed in statements last week that Jaffe is on the way to renew his contract with the team, but so far this matter has not been officially announced.
And “Marca” confirmed that the new amount in the player’s penalty clause makes the matter complicated for clubs wishing to include him, despite the huge expectations from Jaffe and the great level he presented with Barcelona and the Spain national team, but paying the amount of 100 million euros is a risk for a young player, and gives Barcelona an outlet for negotiations. regarding the renewal of his contract.
Ivan de la Pena, the former Barcelona star and Jaffe’s agent, is trying to renew his contract and demands a larger annual salary and a new contract, but Barcelona, due to the economic crisis, cannot meet the player’s conditions, and offers fewer financial offers.
Despite the interest of Liverpool and Manchester City, Jaffe prefers to stay in Barcelona and considers it a priority, while coach Xavi Hernandez is pressing the administration to renew the contract of the midfielder, which he considers one of his plans for next season.
17-year-old Jaffe participated in the Barcelona first team in 47 matches, during which he scored two goals. He also became one of the main players in the squad for the Spanish national team and coach Luis Enrique, and played 10 international matches, during which he scored one goal.