Barcelona director rules out signing a replacement for Gavi: “He’s a player who cannot be replaced”

Barcelona were dealt with a huge blow this week when it was confirmed that Gavi had ruptured the Anterior Cruciate Ligament of his right knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.

With Gavi no longer available to play, Barcelona are understood to be looking for a replacement for the 19-year-old midfield prodigy once the January transfer window opens.

Names like Giovani Lo Celso and Thiago Alcantara have been linked with a move to the Blaugrana.

Impossible to replace Gavi, says Deco

Barcelona sporting director Deco was recently asked about the club’s plans and how they planned on tackling the absence of Gavi in the second half of the season.

And the former midfielder made it clear that there was no way the club could find a suitable replacement for Gavi, stating that there is no player on the market capable of doing what he does.

Speaking to EFE (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Deco said: “As of today, Gavi is a player who cannot be replaced. There is no player on the market available to do his job, neither with his mentality, nor with his ability.”

“To argue about replacing Gavi is a mistake; it is a mistake to think that we are going to find a player to replace him. We won’t,” he further added.

Putting an end to the possibility of signing a replacement for Gavi, Deco stated: “We are not going to go crazy with Gavi’s injury. It’s sad for him, for us as a club, but we won’t find a replacement.”

In-house solutions?

If Barcelona do not plan to replace Gavi, they could be forced to look for solutions from within the club.

Such a scenario would likely mean more minutes for Fermin Lopez, who is enjoying a breakthrough season with the Blaugrana. Beyond that, Sergi Roberto could also be an option in midfield when necessary.

Young talents like Aleix Garrido, Unai Hernandez, Marc Bernal, and Marc Casado could also be viable options for Xavi and Barcelona.