Barcelona midfielder, Xavi Hernandezhas hinted that the rivalrary Real Madrid club is the last club he would never think of playing for as he maintained he is confident of his choice to stay at Barca this summer.
Xavi stated on Sunday, December 21, 2014 that he was close to quitting Camp Nou before the start of the season but was convinced by the clubs coach, Luis Enrique that he still had a valuable part to play in the success of the club.
The 34-year old Spanish star told reporters in Egypt that he has no plan to move from Barcelona at the end of the season despite desperate bid for him from Premiership clubs and suggests Madrid would be the last place he could consider moving to.
“I’m a fanatic for Barcelona. I wouldn’t be happy in Madrid. I’m from Barcelona, that’s the truth. I can’t deceive anyone,” he said.
“I’m in the place I wanted and always dreamed about, which is FC Barcelona. I consider myself very lucky. Football is my life and not leaving Barcelona was my best choice.
“I don’t want to leave Barcelona at all. I want to continue to the end. We agreed last summer on one more year and I’m now more comfortable.
“I want to continue as long as I can. I don’t know when I will take my decision. Many new players joined the club and our goal is to have a strong Barca even if it means I sit on the bench.”
Barcelona, having struggled for consistent performance under current coach, Luis Enrique this season, they hope to put their trophy-drought outing season Gerardo Martino behind them.
Xavi admits it will be difficult for his side to return to the standards set under Pep Guardiola during their dominant period between 2008 and 2012.
“Guardiola’s era was wonderful, and then we remained competitive in Tito’s era. We didn’t win trophies last year but this year we can make it,” he assured.
“It’s hard to repeat the Guardiola era achievements as the other teams are discovering us and study our system, so it’s hard to move back to the same enjoyable style.
“We had a good match against Cordoba. Real Madrid are a very good team but we will work hard to improve our level and continue to get our goals at the end.”
Xavi admits he remains uncertain what he will do once he retires from the game, but is certain he will not turn his back on football.
“I don’t know what I’ll do after retirement. I might be a sporting director, maybe a coach, maybe a kids’ trainer. What matters is that it’s related to football.”
Finally, Egypt reporters asked the midfielder who the best player was he has ever played alongside, and he responded.
“[Lionel] Messi, I can’t judge the history of football] but Messi is the best I played with.”
