Xavi: “Messi will decide next week”

Xavi Hernández received MD in his office at Ciutat Esportiva. A space he uses for meetings with Mateu Alemany, Jordi Cruyff or the players, because to work he shares space with all his trusted ‘staff’ in an adjacent room. He reviews the season, talks about the future, his renewal, possible signings and Leo Messi’s possible return to Barça.

Fans watch Messi. Do you find it more complicated now than a few weeks ago because of all the rumors that Messi wants to make a decision quickly and that the decision should be close?

No, I see it as before. I have said many times, his doors are open here, I am the coach and I know he will help us if he decides to come, but in the end, I think we have to leave him a little bit. He finished the season there, he has a lot of respect at Paris Saint-Germain, he wants to finish in the best possible way, his contract will end and then he’s got all the rights in the world to say where to go, where to end his career . I think he has the football to continue at a high level and if he goes to Barça, which most or all Catalans want, especially the coach, the doors are open, I am convinced that it will be fine.

You said 99% depends on him. If there is no formal offer for the League topic, isn’t it too much to say 99%? It might feel like a bit of pressure for Leo.

Let’s see, about the issue of football, it depends on him, for me there is no doubt. If Leo decides to go, the doors are open at the football level. I know it will help us. I am the person in charge of the staff, he has all the trust and all the enthusiasm of the staff so that he can join. No doubt. I have no doubt that it will help us a lot at the football level. From there, the contractual issue is no longer my concern.

At the club they say that the contractual issue is more or less under control and it can be expected.

According to what they tell me, yes, but especially at the end if the coach has to give the OK for him to come, he has 100% OK.

Also Leo, you said you talked to him. From a football point of view, how do you see Leo Messi in this Barça, what role do you see him in?

Well, in many positions he can fit in, he can play as a winger, he can play as a midfielder, he can play as a false nine, which is where he has played all his life. In the end you have to find a natural habitat for him to enhance his entire game, but I do see that he can help us a lot, I think we lack that talent in the last third and Leo always gives it to you.

Inside the dressing room, now that Busquets is gone, Jordi Alba is leaving, is this leadership missing that Leo can also assume as the former captain?

Leo is a natural leader, he adapts perfectly to the circumstances, he has been the captain of this club, he has been the best player in the history and obviously of this club. Without a doubt, I insist and repeat, because of the coach, the doors are 100% open.

To what extent does Messi’s arrival determine the preparation of the squad? That is, if Messi comes, is there a need for a specific transfer profile in any position?

Nope.

And if it doesn’t come, is it a different profile?

No, it doesn’t change anything. I was very clear with him, with sports management, with Mateu, with Jordi until the end of his contract. We have also talked to the president about pieces that I think are missing and have nothing to do with it. Whether Leo comes along or not. It is independent of that.

I say this because it is true that Leo, at his age, may not have suffered much defensively. If he does come, he may need a tougher, stronger winger or a more muscular midfielder to balance that out.

It won’t do anything, for me it won’t do anything. The way I imagine the team next year, whether Leo comes or not, nothing has changed for me.

If Messi doesn’t come, will you need a footballer for the final pass and a goal? Type Bernardo Silva.

No, well, it would be obvious, that would be wonderful, but he is also a City player, very difficult.

But we can say that last year he had the temptation to come here.

Yes. I believe that you will tell any footballer in the world that he has a proposal from Barcelona and that Barça and the Barça coach love him and will not tell you a ‘no’ from principle.

You and Messi have a close relationship, former teammates, you talk often. Does he tell you how he sees it? Can you see him excited to be back here?

That next week he will make a decision and you have to leave him alone. After all, if we talk about Leo every day, every day, I don’t think it goes well either. Ultimately he will decide next week and now there are 200 hypotheses. In the end, he will decide his future and here the doors are open, no more debate.

Well, we follow the slogan that Xavi says and we go to another topic.

Do you want Kimmich to come? He is a footballer who knows you, compliments are exchanged, Xavi is Kimmich’s idol.

Yes, but here later the clubs were angry with me, because the sports director of Real Sociedad was angry with me. At the end you ask me, you ask me again… we are talking about names that are number one in their position, Zubimendi and Kimmich who are super top top and also understand the fantastic game.

You made it clear that they need a top replacement for Busquets…

Yes, we need a replacement of the highest level, a footballer who has been a starter all season is leaving, important, this very leader of Barça who won the League and the Super Cup. We need a high-level player in that position, otherwise we will struggle to compete next year.

And do you see what Joshua Kimmich can do? It is above.

Well, Kimmich has a contract, so there, if there can be any open door, there would have to be a negotiation with Bayern Munich.

And would you roll up your sleeves, in that sense, to try to give it a boost?

I try to do what is in my hands and more so that Barça can be competitive. Also, sorry to this club, I am very culé and if I have to travel, if I have to call, if I have to… well, I do it, I do it for the good of the team, right . ? In the end I also play a lot as a coach, the staff, I try to have the best possible team so that in the end the footballers are comfortable and make a difference. The more footballers we have of a better level, the better we will compete and we will be closer to the goals.