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.
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has swerved talk of a summer exit for star midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who increasingly looks like a candidate to be sold by the Blaugrana. According to the latest in Catalonia, he has not responded to a renewal offer that he has had on the table since October.
The Blaugrana are keen to renew de Jong’s contract at a lower rate and extend it, but if he does not accept a new deal, they will look to sell him. Due to the deferrals agreed by former President Josep Maria Bartomeu, de Jong is by far the highest paid in the squad, with a rumoured salary of nearly €25m per year.
Other reports claim it will cost €77m to keep de Jong for the coming seasons, and with his contract up in 2026, it makes sense for Barcelona to consider a sale this summer. De Jong, for his part, is happy in Barcelona where he has just had his first child, but is considering whether the team itself are heading in the right direction. Paris Saint-Germain have been linked to him since the news broke that Kylian Mbappe would be leaving the club.
Asked about a potential departure, Xavi gave little away.
“Frenkie is a very important player and he is comfortable at the club. This is not the time to talk about this. There are four months left in the season and we are not talking about departures. We are thinking about LaLiga and the Champions League.”
He did admit that de Jong had not hit the heights expected of him this season though.
“Frenkie has had good games and others not so much, like the entire team. We have lacked consistency and regularity. We all have to take a step forward.”
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