“I am very happy for the renewal, it is a dream that I had since I was young. With my family and agent we were always clear that we wanted to be here,” Gavi said at a presentation for his contract renewal.
He added: “Taking things as normally as possible. La Masia has helped me a lot in that respect. Also the team and the staff. I carry it as best I can.
“It is something unique what you experience there (La Masia). I am very grateful to the chefs, the tutors… since I was young they have taught me to work and to be humble.”
Barcelona boss Xavi added: “It’s great news, the most important news of the week. He’s a leader, despite his age. He’s matured, he’s playing fluid football.
The club’s president (Joan Laporta) said: “Today is a historic day because it represents the present, the immediate present and the future of Barca.
“This renewal is a paradigm of talent, and effort, of a player who gives his all…. when I was a little boy at Barca they used to say this is a player who is doing his best, and Gavi is the one who is doing his absolute best.”
Spanish outlet La Vanguardia have revealed that ‘Villarreal, Sevilla, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid also wanted him’ before he joined Barcelona in 2015 from Real Betis when he was aged eleven.
It is stated that ‘money never tempted him’ as he was totally focused on joining Barcelona.
The report adds that ‘Man Utd tried to seduce Gavi this year’. It is said that ‘an offer of around five million euros over three years’ was on the table but he never considered the move.
