Xavi Simons stepped onto the podium in the packed press room eight minutes late, presented his new number 10 jersey with a smile – and then spoke in detail about his groundbreaking decision to join RB Leipzig. “I want to develop further as a player. And this is the perfect place and the perfect time for that,” said the Dutch attacking star, who is planning to attack the Bundesliga crown with RB: “I’m not finished here yet.”
The new sports director Marcel Schäfer and sports director Rouven Schröder were almost bursting with pride at the presentation of the 21-year-old on Tuesday morning. The Dutchman’s renewed loan from PSG is a clear signal to the competition. “The start couldn’t be better than with such news,” said Schäfer, who only took office on August 1st.
With 23 points in the last Bundesliga season and a strong European Championship in Germany, Xavi had aroused the interest of numerous top clubs – and turned down FC Bayern, among others. “After the European Championship, everyone calls you and says how great you are. But I want to continue to leave my mark here,” emphasised the Dutchman, whose acceptance is an “elementary point in squad planning” for Schröder.
Coach Marco Rose can rely on almost the same team as in the previous season in the new season, and the title hunt is on. “Everyone has stayed, which is very important. There are no excuses,” said Xavi. Only the future of European champion Dani Olmo in Leipzig remains open, and the European Championship star is said to have already reached an agreement with FC Barcelona.
Olmo also courted by Barcelona
The Catalans had let an exit clause in the Spaniard’s contract expire at the end of July in order to then push for a cheaper transfer fee than the 60 million euros originally set by Leipzig. But Leipzig is remaining persistent – and has already been rewarded for this, at least in the case of Xavi.
“It was a long process. But now we are very proud that we have done it,” said Schröder. Xavi was back on the training field with the team for the first time on Tuesday; after the strenuous European Championships he needed “a bit of a break”. But now, Xavi stressed, he is fit again – and ready for great things with RB.
