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.
Xavi Hernandez’s decision to step down as Barcelona head coach at the end of the season came as a shock to many, despite the club’s difficult spell over the last few months. The 44-year-old announced the news after the defeat to Villarreal on Saturday, and the decision looks like having a knock-on effect on one of his squad members.
That is Sergi Roberto. The 31-year-old club captain is out of contract at the end of the season, but the expectation was that he would remain, given that Xavi was expected to continue as head coach into the 2024-25 campaign.
However, with Xavi now leaving, Diario AS say that Barcelona won’t entertain the option of Roberto getting a new contract, as they have “no intention” of allowing him to stay beyond the end of the season. As such, he will be leaving in the summer in search of a new club.
Roberto has been an excellent servant for Barcelona, but it now looks very likely that he will be leaving. With this, a new club captain will be needed – the likes of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Ronald Araujo will be strong candidates for this role.
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