Gavi says Mbappe’s quality is impossible to ignore ahead of El Clasico

Barcelona midfielder Gavi has praised Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe as one of the best players in the world and warned that he can decide the outcome of Sunday’s El Clasico.

The two sides meet at Spotify Camp Nou in the 10th round of La Liga, with Gavi speaking to ESPN before the match.

“Everyone knows that Mbappe is one of the best players in the world,” said Gavi. “For me, he is a player I have always admired a lot.

“Honestly, I think everyone enjoys watching him when he plays. In footballing terms, he is among the very best in the world.”

Gavi also highlighted the threat posed by the France international’s movement and ability to create difficulties for opponents during any attack.

“We have to be very careful with him because he can put you in a difficult situation with any attack,” he added. “We need to watch him closely and remain alert to his movements throughout the match.”

Mbappe’s prolific goalscoring has not been matched by a large collection of trophies, and Gavi was asked about the forward’s prospects in the Ballon d’Or race.

“Yes, Mbappe scores a lot of goals, but he has not been lucky when it comes to winning trophies,” Gavi said. “That does not change the fact that he is one of the best players in the world, and he proves it constantly.

“Anyone who does not want to see that is blind, right?”

The Barcelona midfielder described Mbappe as an exceptional and highly dangerous player, while pointing out that success in terms of silverware can also depend on a team’s circumstances and the players around an individual.

“Winning trophies also depends on the circumstances of the team and the players you play alongside,” Gavi said. “Not winning trophies does not mean that he had a bad season or that his season was less impressive than those of other players.

“For me, he had an exceptional season.”

Despite his praise for the Real Madrid striker, Gavi made clear that he would prefer his Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or.

“But as I have said before, I hope Lamine Yamal wins the Ballon d’Or,” he said.