Barcelona midfielder Gavi has acknowledged Kylian Mbappe’s standing among the world’s best players ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico, while pointing to the trophies that have so far eluded the Real Madrid forward.
The comments come before Real Madrid’s meeting with Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou, with Mbappe expected to be one of the key figures in a fixture that could have significant implications for the La Liga title race.
Gavi’s assessment recognises the Frenchman’s individual quality, even as he draws a distinction between personal performances and collective success.
Gavi admits Mbappe is among the world’s best
Gavi made his position clear when discussing Mbappe’s goalscoring record and standing in world football.
Rather than dismissing the Real Madrid forward because of the trophies he has won, the Barcelona midfielder stressed that individual performances cannot be judged independently of the team around a player.
“It’s true that Kylian Mbappe scores a lot of goals, but he hasn’t managed to turn that into trophies so far. However, that doesn’t diminish his value in the slightest.
Gavi has praised Kylian Mabppe. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
“He is one of the best players in the world, and he proves it consistently. Mbappé is an exceptional and incredibly dangerous player, and anyone who can’t see that is blind, right?
“Winning trophies doesn’t depend solely on a player’s individual level; it is also influenced by the strength of the team and the players around him,” he said, as per Madrid Zone.
Gavi warns Barcelona about Real Madrid’s late threat
Gavi also addressed the mentality required to compete in El Clasico, making clear that Barcelona cannot afford to relax at any stage.
His warning about Real Madrid’s ability to threaten late in matches is particularly relevant to a fixture in which concentration and execution can determine the outcome.
Explaining the intensity he expects from both teams, Gavi said,
Gavi is fired up to face Real Madrid. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“We have to go to war, no matter how either team arrives. These are do-or-die matches where both teams come out firing from the start.
“We have to maintain the right mentality throughout the entire game because they can hurt you on any play, especially in the final minutes; they’re very dangerous.
“We have to stay focused the whole match, and I hope we come away with the victory.”
The Barcelona midfielder also appealed for strong support from the home crowd, hoping the atmosphere can help his side secure the result. He said,
“I hope the fans cheer us on like never before, and I hope we can bring them that joy, that they’ll be happy with the match and that we can secure the victory for them.”