Gavi's second yellow card against Porto in the Champions League was a silly thing. Barcelona were defending a 1-0 lead, and had 10 men behind the ball when the Spaniard was evaded by a Porto player. Gavi couldn't help himself, though. He grabbed his opponent's shirt as he ran past — barely slowing him down.
Still, it was enough for Gavi, already on a yellow card, to be given his marching orders. Improbably, it was just the second sending off of the Barcelona teenager's career.
That comes as a surprise based on the reputation that he has built up. Gavi is a polarising figure among football fans. First pegged as the heir to Xavi in Barcelon's midfield, one of La Masia's latest midfield products has become something else.
He is not as technical nor graceful as his now manager. Instead, for Barcelona supporters, he is the all-action midfielder that Xavi needs — a relentless pest off the ball, who can pick a deadly pass or produce a moment of magic when he has it. For others, he's an overrated menace, a cheat, a player reckless to the point of danger.
But which is the real Gavi? Or is he some of both? For his manager, he might just be the perfect blend, the kind of midfielder he loves to have, and knows other teams hate.
