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.
Jules Kounde had started the 2023-24 season in top form. Having returned to his natural centre-back position after spending much of the previous campaign as a right-back, the French defender was undoubtedly one of Barcelona’s top performers, until he picked up an injury against Granada in October.
Since then, Kounde has been on a downward trajectory. His performances have been below-par, something that is concerning Barcelona officials, as per Sport. His latest poor showing came against Athletic Club in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey quarter-final defeat at San Mames, with the 25-year-old having been especially poor during extra time.
Barcelona’s concern in regards to Kounde is growing, although he continues to play a key role for head coach Xavi Hernandez. He has played every single minute of the Catalan giants’ fixture in 2024, and that looks to continue being the case going forward, especially with Alejandro Balde’s injury leaving the club one defender short for the foreseeable future.
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