Thursday 27 March 2008

Youth: Gai Assulin

British tabloid The Daily Star claims that Premier League clubs Chelsea and Manchester City are interested in Barcelona attacking midfielder Gai Assulin (16), who made his debut with the Israeli national team yesterday. The agent of the player, Pini Zahavi, admits the interest of several clubs but told in an interview with the paper that the player has no plans to leave. Zahavi is quoted as saying: "Those teams are interesting and we will never say no. But Gai feels good in Barcelona."

Gai Assulin was born in Israel and came to Barcelona four years ago. Since a few months, Gai is playing with Barcelona B in the Spanish fourth division. Under the management of former Barcelona defensive midfielder Josep Guardiola he already scored seven goals this season, having an important part in the second place of the team in the classification. Last september he made his senior debut with the first team in the semi-final of the Copa Catalunya.

In August last year, Gai signed a three year contract with Barcelona, that includes a buyout clause of 20 million euro (°).

(read more youth transfer stories here)

5 comments:

pep said...

(°) 20 million euro =

31,6 million us dollar
15,7 million british pound

Anonymous said...

Pini Zahavi is the same bastard like Joseba Díaz. He will push the player to leave for an english club, hope Gai will resist.

Anonymous said...

why barca is start losing their youth stars?!!!!

Anonymous said...

pep,

I doubt Gai signed a professional contract with Barça. In Spain players are not allowed to sign pro contracts before the age of 17. Or am I wrong here?

That's the main reason PL clubs chose to camp outside La Masia trying to "steal" talented players before they're 16 years. Like they did with Cesc and Fran Merida.

Gai rejected a big offer from Chelsea last summer, as Iago Falqué and Bojan has done before. That club can just dream to get a talent like Gai Assulin from Barcelona. Dream on chavs. ;-)

pep said...

I have to say I'm not sure on the age thing (some claim it's even 18), so if any Spanish lawyer is reading this, help us out.

I thought they changed it after Cesc. Bojan only became 17 in late August last year and I think he had some contract by that time already. But I'm not sure, so thanks for the remark. I'll put that phrase between brackets until I got that confirmed or denied.

Having started this blog only last month, guess by following these things more closely now, it will become clear sooner or later.

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