Why Gavi wore No.30 shirt against Manchester United instead of his usual No.6

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Why is Gavi number 30? Many people are asking after Barcelona drew 2-2 against Manchester United in the Europa League Round of 32.

The European giants played out an exhilarating game inside the Camp Nou on Thursday night to set up a mouthwatering second leg at Old Trafford.

However – amid the excitement – plenty of fans found themselves asking why Gavi was wearing the No.30 shirt when he usually dons the No.6 jersey for Barcelona.

So, what’s the reason? Let’s take a look…

Why is Gavi number 30?

Well, the Spain international inherited the No.6 shirt – made iconic at the Camp Nou by Xavi – on January 31st, as Barcelona revealed in an official announcement.

Gavi has since worn the No.6 shirt in La Liga for Barcelona.

However, UEFA do not allow mid-season shirt number changes, so the 18-year-old is having to wear his old No.30 shirt in European competitions until the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

La Liga regulations state that a player can switch shirt numbers during the middle of the campaign as long as no other player has worn that specific jersey in the same season.

In this instance, Barcelona’s No.6 shirt has been vacant since Riqui Puig left the Camp Nou for LA Galaxy in August 2022 without making an appearance in the 2022/23 campaign, leaving it free for Gavi.

A similar incident occurred in the Europa League after Andy Carroll completed his £35m move to Liverpool back in January 2011.

Fernando Torres – who moved to Chelsea in a £50m deal that same month – had worn the No.9 shirt in Europa League action for Liverpool earlier in that 2010/11 campaign.

Therefore, Carroll – who inherited the No.9 shirt – was forced to wear the No.29 jersey in Europe for the Reds.

Regardless of UEFA’s regulations regarding the current campaign, Gavi will be allowed to wear his new No.6 shirt in Europe from the start of next season.