Luis Enrique fully enjoyed the performances of Gavi for Spain on Tuesday evening in the Nations League match with Italy (1-2 win). At 17 years and 62 days, the midfielder became the youngest A-international ever in the southern European country. There has been some criticism in recent days about Luis Enrique’s choice to select the teenager after seven matches for Barcelona, but the national coach was wrong about that.
Luis Enrique even had Gavi appear at the starting signal in Milan and left him until minute 84, when Sergi Roberto replaced him. “Did I say he would be basic strength? I can’t remember. He plays as if he is playing football in a schoolyard or in his backyard. It is a pleasure to have a player of this quality and personality.”
“I told him to put pressure on Marco Verratti from start to finish,” Luis Enrique continued in conversation with Italian media. “He enjoyed that. Do you see how good these guys are in Spain? It’s not normal for a debutant to show so much character and self-confidence on his debut. Definitely not normal. He will be the future of Spain and I think the present too.”
The newspapers in Spain are full of praise for Gavi’s first appearance on behalf of la seleccion espanola. “Great debut”, emphasizes ASH. “Gavi looked more like a veteran than the youngest player ever on the national team. He left a good impression both defensively and offensively.” marca saw how Gavi was unaffected by anything that had been said about him. “He wasn’t nervous because of his debut and not because of everything that has been said about him.”
“Defensively, he works very hard to maintain control of the midfield and avoid counter-attacks from Italy. It took a while for Gavi to get more involved in the build-up, but from then on he broke through lines and proved he has a lot of talent. He is not shy about the ball. Great match”, emphasized Spain’s best-selling sports newspaper.
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