Superkid Gavi: His journey from Real Betis juniors to Barcelona stardom

This Saturday's LALIGA EA SPORTS match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at the Estadi Olímpic is a big one, and it'll be really special for one player in particular. Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, better known as Gavi, is now a regular starter for Barça and has played 100 times for the first team. He has become the youngest player to reach a centenary of games for Los Blaugrana, achieving this feat at 19 years and 29 days. However, he was in the Real Betis academy just eight years ago.

He may be young and he may be small, but Gavi is the most recent winner of the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy awards and he makes up for his lack of experience and his lack of size through his innate feel for the beautiful game. That understanding of the sport is partly natural and partly taught.

Born in the province of Seville, Gavi has always stood out among his peers and, as he was growing up, he was nicknamed Oliver Atom after the star player of the 'Captain Tsubasa' manga series. Those natural skills saw him join the Real Betis academy and then, at the age of 11, move to Catalonia to enter FC Barcelona's prestigious La Masia school. There, he often played with footballers older than he was and he always held his own, learning how to use his talents in the most effective way.

That prepared him for his early ascent to senior football, first competing against full-grown adults when he made his debut for Barcelona B on February 21st 2021 at 16 years and 200 days of age. Later that year, Ronald Koeman trusted Gavi enough to give the youngster his debut with the first team, on August 29th 2021 against Getafe CF in LALIGA EA SPORTS, when the midfielder was still only 17 years and 25 days old.

Immediately, Gavi looked like he belonged in LALIGA