Xavi is nowhere the same player he was a few seasons ago. As well as that Xavi cannot play in a 2 man midfield even if he was still close to his previous best. Xavi would be a bad signing and not improve the midfield.
Xavi
- Thread starter NoPace
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Would be great to have him here if the pressers have got this right. I would expect a Blanc effect where we struggle (initially) as he has such a big role to fill, but is a great influence as he goes on and adapts to the PL.
I think, if he were to come to us, he could be one of the most disappointing signings the club ever made. We would continually see these glimpses of the player he was, sometimes maybe even a complete game in which he reminds you of his class. But ultimately, all you'd get is this melancholy feeling that we were arriving 5 or even 10 years too late.
That said, I think he'll either stay with Barca or go to Qatar. I don't see him going into a Raul style second phase with another European club.
That said, I think he'll either stay with Barca or go to Qatar. I don't see him going into a Raul style second phase with another European club.
If he came as a coach, I'd be thrilled. But not now as he's in the decline. As Jo pointed out.
Shocking if true!
Al Arabi boss Dan Petrescu confirms that Barcelona’s Xavi has signed pre-contract with the Qatari club
Qatar, destroying football from middle 2000s.
Al Arabi boss Dan Petrescu confirms that Barcelona’s Xavi has signed pre-contract with the Qatari club
Qatar, destroying football from middle 2000s.
Fabregas has told the press Xavi is leaving.
Perhaps the Sunday Times can do an expose and they can re-run the contract negotiations.
It's one thing to leave, but Qatar. Xavi could well play two more years at top level, Pirlo is playing at Juve and doing great.
It's better than qataris are banned from everything football related. Until they have not ruined it completely!
He is 34y.o let him go and earn his pension in the middle east. He has done it all in football maybe if he feels he can't continue any longer at the highest level.
With money and corruption?How is Qatar ruining football
How is Qatar ruining football
Some would say hijacking a world cup which they're completely ill suited to host is ruining football.
Not to mention the affect PSG and other Qatari-owned clubs have had on the transfer market.
Oh no, Al Arabi's got bigger pulling power than we do, we're doomed.
Might be trying to follow in Guardiola's footsteps and get some experience of football elsewhere before entering into management.
Right. They are forcing Xavi to come aren't they.
The world cup debate is separate from this. My point was how people say this big money clubs ruin football. Are they forcing Xavi? He has a choice. He can stay "total football" if he wants to.
No, they just give him shitload of money to play in front empty or filled with bystanders stadiums in a fictional league just to boost their international image and show how they care about football. I think it stinks.
Xavi is done at top level. Thanks for all the good games and good bye.
I think its funny the way people respect a player decision to go earn top dollar at a shit club when they're past their prime that they ''deserved it'' .. they're not exactly poverty stricken players.. they're worth 10s of millions already!
I'd love him here. Two years. Then he could go off to Qatar if he still wanted too.
Watch out for @Alex99 with comments like this one mate.
What they do might stink but my point is that no one is forced to watch their league or play in it.
I feel similarly. He's a culer through & through, wasn't about to go to a competing club and potentially face Barcelona. Instead he gets a nice retirement in Qatar. Didn't want to be a bit role player despite the possibility of him becoming a useful closer under Lucho, playing the last quarter hour to 30 minutes. Guess there's a real movement afoot at the club to start fresh in midfield. Important player for both Spain & Barcelona, a club legend - could see him coaching in the near future. Nothing will be quite the same again after the midfield maestro leaves - the club loses their 3rd Captain this season which means they will need to find leadership as well. Puyol, Valdes & Xavi - how do you replace legends like that?
I think this means they will go all in for Koke
That is one tumble Xavi has suffered.
Id have him here, if Giggs can win player of the year at the age of 35, Xavi will be okay.
16 years with the first team, more trophies than any other player in Spanish history and a more comprehensive list of titles than any other CM. If that's a tumble, everyone is a bit shite
Xavi is past it. Wouldn't improve us in any way.
Top player, but wouldn't have him here on the wages he'd command and the fact that if we did, I doubt we'd see another CM
No, I mean from Barcelona to some random club in Qatar. His legs have gone, not his skills. He could've still been useful. And he was still one of the best more than a year back. And now, in some pub league..
What do you think your chances are in the league and Europe next year? Xavi, Valdes, Fabregas, Pinto, Puyol and possibly Alves and Song leaving. Thats quite an overhaul. Messi and Iniesta don't seem to be leaders in the same way Puyol or Xavi were if they get the armband. They are a bit on the quiet side.
From BarcaStuff:
Alves: "Xavi leaving? It can't be true. Not Xavi. He's the symbol of this Barça. If he leaves, anyone could leave. I don't understand it."
Alves: "Xavi leaving? It can't be true. Not Xavi. He's the symbol of this Barça. If he leaves, anyone could leave. I don't understand it."
It will be a pity if he goes to the God forsaken Qatari league
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/11/xavi-barcelona-spain-interview
Nothing cynical about going to Qatar for a billion dollare. Nope.
Nothing cynical about going to Qatar for a billion dollare. Nope.
Well, it's not like they forced WC selection either. I don't get your argument really. As long as they are not holding someone at gunpoint, all is well?
My argument is that why shouldn't we blame the players who "sell their footballing" skill and "go join the devil" for money. It's a free world. If someone if offering tonnes of money for crap football/crap league we can't stop them.
He should go to another top club, he isn't done yet. Ac milan would do well to let him go there for a year or two.
What's so surprising? He's 35. He'll get paid high wages (tax free), gets to spend sometime in the sun, it's an easier workload so he gets time to work on his badges. Footballers' bodies take quite a beating for 20 years, it's understandable if they want to take it easy as they get older.
That said, he should have come to the MLS.
That said, he should have come to the MLS.
It seems like he signed for Al-Sadd
http://as.com/diarioas/2015/03/26/english/1427384320_553969.html
Pep also played in Qatar during the end of his career.
http://as.com/diarioas/2015/03/26/english/1427384320_553969.html
Pep also played in Qatar during the end of his career.
10 million euros a year? Not bad. Good for him.