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.
Aston Villa have reportedly offered €20 million + add-ons for Barcelona forward Ferran Torres. According to El Nacional, the Premier League side are willing to spend €20 million in fixed payments and another €10 million in variables to the Catalans for the Spanish forward.
Torres has been heavily linked with an exit from Barcelona following a rather disappointing outing in the 2022-23 season. He has struggled to nail down a starting berth at Barcelona and made just 14 starts in La Liga last term.
Barcelona signed him for €55 million in January 2022. The Catalans still owe City €30 million in payment for that deal. As such, Barca president Joan Laporta doesn't want to sell him for the sum that Aston Villa are offering. This is because he doesn't want to sell the young forward in a deal that causes a loss to the club.
Earlier in June, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez admitted that Torres' future remains uncertain. Speaking to Gerard Romero in an interview, Xavi said:
Amid all the speculation, Torres revealed in late June that he wants to stay at Barcelona. Speaking at an event in Foios last month, Torres said:
On being asked about the links to Aston Villa, Torres said:
In 71 appearances in all competitions so far for Barcelona, the 23-year-old has scored 14 goals and provided nine assists.
Aston Villa finished eighth in the 2022-23 Premier League season in impressive fashion. They have been ambitious in the transfer window this summer, signing the likes of Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans already.
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