Hansi Flick Reveals Why Gavi Refused To Play Against Valencia

Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, has revealed that his team’s midfielder, Gavi opted to decline a chance to participate in the club’s 7-1 win over Valencia on Sunday, January 26.

In the absence of the Spanish youngster, FC Barcelona went on to humiliate Valencia at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, a win that moved them seven points closer to first-placed Real Madrid.

The stunning win marked a significant milestone for the Catalan club, as they surpassed the 100-goal threshold for the 2024-2025 campaign, showcasing their potent attacking prowess.

Key contributors to the scoreline included Fermín López, who netted two goals, alongside Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and the ever-reliable Robert Lewandowski, each adding to the team’s impressive tally.

This commanding victory was pivotal for Barcelona in the La Liga standings, allowing them to narrow the gap to just three points behind their rivals, Atlético Madrid, who currently sit in second place.

Amid the celebrations, Gavi found himself on the bench, having made only four appearances in La Liga since returning from a recent injury. Flick had intended to use Gavi as a substitute in the last 15 minutes, aiming to capitalize on his energy and skill to further assert their dominance on the field.

However, Gavi surprised both Flick and the fans by refusing to enter the game, instead expressing his desire to see Pablo Torre come onto the pitch. Torre has seen limited playing time this season, totaling just 373 minutes. Gavi’s decision was rooted in a sense of camaraderie and team spirit that resonated with Flick.

In a post-match press conference, Flick praised Gavi’s gesture, emphasizing the strong bond within the team.

“The situation I’m most impressed with is when I spoke with Gavi. Normally, I always bring him on with 15 minutes to go, and he said no, he wants Pablo Torre to come in instead. You can see how connected the team is. It’s fantastic to observe as a coach. I have a lot of admiration for Gavi for this. He has a strong desire to play in every match, and to make this choice in such a moment speaks volumes,” Flick told reporters.