Barcelona cannot register Gavi as a first-team player yet – report

On Tuesday, reports had emerged claiming that Barcelona were waiting for the final green light from La Liga to complete the registration of midfield prodigy Gavi as a first-team member.

The 18-year-old had signed a new contract with first-team wages in September last year, but it has not officially been registered with La Liga due to the club’s Financial Fair Play issues.

But following Gerard Pique’s retirement and Memphis Depay’s transfer to Atletico Madrid, Barça decided to make use of the Fair Play margin created to register Gavi’s new contract and him the No. 6 jersey this month.

However, as per the latest updates from Marta Ramon on RAC1, Barcelona cannot go ahead with the registration of Gavi as a first-team member at this moment.

The report states that the teenage midfielder’s new salary already fits into the club’s wage bill as Barça do not exceed the Fair Play margin.

However, the hold-up in the registration process is due to the fact that Barcelona have not generated enough revenue for the next season and are failing to comply with two articles of La Liga’s Fair Play regulations.

For Barcelona to register the contracts of Gavi as well as Ronald Araujo and complete the renewals of Alejandro Balde and Inaki Pena, they will need to shed more wages from their salary bill, add more income as well as make a feasibility plan to make the squad sustainable for the summer.

So, it seems that the plans to register Gavi and give him the No. 6 will now be on hold once again as Barcelona try and negotiate with La Liga over the Fair Play situation and consider their next steps.

The La Masia graduate signed a new contract with Barça until 2026 and is shielded by a €1 billion release clause.