Gavi shines, Barca have more worries.

Gavi has made a strong comeback and is giving Hansi Flick a headache with his personnel choices.

The young Spanish midfielder was one of Barcelona's biggest highlights during their 2025 summer tour. Not only did he display his familiar passionate style of play, but Gavi also unexpectedly shone in a goal-scoring role – something not typically considered his strong point.

With three goals, he equaled Robert Lewandowski, becoming the team's joint top scorer in the pre-season friendlies. That's a remarkable statistic, making Gavi's performance even more convincing.

Notably, Hansi Flick used Gavi as a wide defensive midfielder in a "double pivot" formation – a role he may be playing for the rest of next season. With Barcelona's midfield already full of quality players like Pedri, De Jong, and young talents Casado and Bernal, Gavi's excellent performance in this position is a clear sign: he is not only ready to return, but also determined to earn a starting spot.

The last two matches showed Gavi's adaptability: he partnered with Pedri against Seoul and played alongside De Jong against Daegu. Both were regular starters last season. With Gavi's return, Barcelona's midfield landscape for the 2025/26 season is more crowded and competitive than ever before.

What makes Gavi's performance even more valuable is the context in which it took place. The 2024/25 season was a difficult one for the player born in 2004, as he suffered a serious injury and spent almost a year recovering.

Despite recovering his fitness at the end of last season, Gavi's ball control and rhythm remain questionable. The pre-season friendlies are the perfect opportunity to test this, and Gavi didn't miss the chance to prove himself.

The young Spanish midfielder is one of Barcelona's biggest highlights during their 2025 summer tour.

Having had ample rest during the summer, returning to his preferred position, and being trusted to play, Gavi looks like the best version of himself before his injury struck. His fiery spirit, all-around ability, and tactical awareness, which were his strengths, are now complemented by confidence in his finishing. It's a combination that Flick can hardly ignore.

Of course, opponents like Seoul or Daegu don't fully reflect the real challenge Barcelona will face. The next test will come in the Joan Gamper Cup match against Como, before the La Liga season kicks off with a clash against Mallorca. But what Gavi has shown so far is more than enough to make him a worthy addition to the top choices for midfield.

Gavi is ready to return – not just to integrate, but to compete on equal footing with Pedri, De Jong, and anyone else dreaming of a starting spot in the Barcelona lineup. And for Flick, that's a welcome "issue."