Xavi Hernandez - a legend of world football, a Spanish player who became one of the most influential and technically gifted players of his generation. He was born on January 25, 1980, in Terrassa, Spain, and displayed his football talent from a young age. Xavi became renowned for his outstanding passing skills and ball control. He possessed a unique ability to control the game on the field, distribute passes, and create attacks for his team.
He began his professional career in 1998, joining the youth team of Barcelona. Over time, he became an integral part of Barcelona's main squad and a product of the legendary La Masia academy. He spent 17 years at FC Barcelona, eventually becoming its captain and one of the main inspirations behind the "tiki-taka" style of play.
Xavi helped Barcelona win numerous domestic and international trophies, including 8 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions League titles. He became the heart and soul of the team, and his on-field leadership was invaluable to Barcelona's success during that period. Xavi is also a key figure for the Spanish national team. With the national squad, he won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
His intellectual approach to the game and his ability to create opportunities for his teammates made him an irreplaceable player for the national team. After leaving Barcelona in 2015, Xavi moved to Qatari club Al-Sadd, where he continued to showcase his skills and leadership. He helped the team win several national titles and became a symbol of football development in Qatar.
In addition to his playing career, Xavi has shown an interest in coaching. He has completed coaching courses and expressed a desire to one day manage his former team, Barcelona. Xavi Hernandez is not only a player of exceptional class but also a symbol of virtuosity, game reading ability, and leadership on the field. His style and contribution to world football will be remembered by generations of fans.
Towards the end of 2023, it was reported that Barcelona would be re-signing Chadi Riad in the summer. The Moroccan youngster joined Real Betis at the start of the season with a loan deal with an obligation to buy, but the Catalans have already announced their intention to trigger the buyback clause that exists in the deal.
It means that head coach Xavi Hernandez will have Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Inigo Martinez and Riad as centre-back options next season, while Eric Garcia is also projected to be back at the club following his loan spell at Girona. Six first team players will surely be too much, so sales will be planned.
Perhaps surprisingly, Sport have reported that Barcelona are considering selling Christensen in the summer. The Dane has greatly impressed since arriving from Chelsea in 2022, but he has struggled to be a regular starter this season, especially due to the arrival of Inigo Martinez.
Christensen has arguably been Barcelona’s most consistent centre-back over the last 18 months, but it’s clear that Xavi values Araujo and Kounde more. Given that he should garner a high transfer list, it probably makes some sense for him to be sold, although it’s not necessarily the right decision.
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