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 appear to have unearthed another rough gem in 20-year-old midfielder Fermin Lopez, after the youngster put in a brilliant performance in El Clasico.
Starting just his fourth professional match, Lopez gave Toni Kroos a serious headache in the first half, hitting the post in the process. This comes after he also started against Shakhtar Donetsk, and was arguably Barcelona’s best player, scoring, hitting the post twice, and having a goal disallowed for offside.
According to Diario AS, Xavi Hernandez has told Lopez that he will no longer be dropping down to the Barca Atletic side with Rafael Marquez, as he considers him a first-team player now.
They go on to remark that Spain manager Luis de la Fuente is well aware of just how good Lopez has been, and is considering a first call-up for their November matches against Cyprus and Georgia.
Fermin’s rapid rise to prominence proves the value of preseason. Lopez impressed Xavi in training, which persuaded the Blaugrana coach to take him on their preseason tour to the USA. The 20-year-old scored against Real Madrid in a preseason friendly, and was on the fringes of the senior side from then on.
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