How much career is left for Lionel Messi, the striker that Barcelona needs and the future of Neymar: 7 definitions of Xavi

Through Instagram, the reunion between Xavi Hernandez and Samuel Eto’o, former Barcelona footballers already retired from activity, but who were part of one of the best teams of all time. The Cameroonian was the one in charge of asking the questions in the framework of the interview promoted by FIFA through the page Road to 2022, that promotes the Qatar World Cup.

Both coincided for five seasons in the Catalan team and in that period they won eight titles, including two Champions League. Furthermore, under the tutelage of Josep Guardiola they formed a phenomenal cast that ran over their classic rival on several occasions: “The 2-6 at the Bernabéu was a magical time. We were superior to Real Madrid. We went to the Bernabéu knowing that we could beat them well. But other times we suffered a lot because they were superior. We have experienced screwed up stages against Real Madrid, with Zidane and Ronaldo in full splendor, ”recalled the Spaniard.

The former midfielder recalled Eto’o’s attitude in those confrontations: “I remember that you were very heavy the week of Real Madrid. Since Monday you already warmed my head. You only lived to screw Real Madrid. ‘Maki, always look at me, I will be unmarked’ you told me every day ”.

In his role as coach at the head of Qatar’s Al Sadd, Xavi is preparing to head Barcelona in the future, although he is not anxious for that moment to come, he even acknowledged that he has already rejected an offer: “In January it was not the time. We were in talks with Abidal and Oscar Grau. I had a very important proposal, but I needed a little more experience. Train the Barca are bigger words. I want to be there and my dream is to train in it Barca” It is that not only his history is linked to the club (he came from La Masía and played in the first team for more than 15 seasons), but also the style of play he tries to enact: “I like teams that don’t speculate. That dominate the parties. I understand soccer as a spectacle. My proposal is to always play attack. I want possession, to have the ball, to be protagonists in the game ”.

In this framework, he highlighted the work of Quique Setién, who has been at the helm of the Catalan team for just months, and obviously highlighted Josep Guardiola, as he usually does in every interview he provides. Who he also praises assiduously is his former teammate Lionel Messi, whom he saw grow at the club and develop as a professional.

The Argentine forward is today the captain and symbol of Barcelona, ​​after the exits of other references such as Iniesta and Xavi himself. But The flea He is now 32 years old, and his time on the pitch seems to be running out: “He still has five or seven years left. He takes great care of himself. I see him playing another World Cup. I am sure of that. Training Messi would be a plus, we are talking about the best player of all time ”.

Of course, in his opinion, the Argentine is above anyone, but the former Spanish midfielder also valued Neymar when Eto’o named him: “Socceristically it is among the three or five best in the world. I hope I return to Barca. I’ve had it as a partner. It would add up a lot. Positive character. It would be an extraordinary signing to make a difference ”. His comments are not insignificant at this time, since the rumor of a possible return of the Brazilian to Catalonia is installed and the voice of the former captain echoes loudly in the corridors of the Camp Nou.

However, when choosing a reinforcement for the team’s offensive, Xavi opted for an impossible signing: “With spaces Mané and Aubemayang they kill you, but Barcelona needs players who know how to move in short spaces. I am already thinking about players who would adapt to Barça and it is not easy to find one. Samuel Eto’o was perfect, as Luis Suárez is now” In the talk, the name of Lautaro Martínez did not appear, who is the footballer targeted by the leadership to be a new signing.

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