‘I would sign more wingers like Neymar – he would be a spectacular transfer ‘: Xavi gives glimpse into how Barcelona would line up if he took over at the Nou Camp with Jadon Sancho and Serge Gnabry also on his wishlist
- Barcelona legend Xavi has revealed he’d love to return to the club as manager
- The 40-year-old manages Al Sadd in Qatar but has been linked with a return
- Xavi insists his former side need more wingers and he’d bring several of them in
- The Spaniard says he would make Neymar’s return to the Nou Camp a reality
- He reveals he would also target Bundesliga duo Jadon Sancho and Serge Gnabry
Xavi has revealed his desire to return to Barcelona as manager in the near future – and he’s already outlined who he’d bring with him if his wish did come true.
The 40-year-old has only just started his managerial career and has been in the hotseat at Qatari-based Al Sadd since 2019.
Xavi is using the experience to hone his craft before making the giant leap back to Europe – and a return home to Barcelona looks to be his most likely destination should he have his way.
Barcelona legend Xavi has revealed he would love to return to the club as manager someday
‘I am clear that I want to return to Barcelona,’ Xavi told La Vanguardia from Doha.
‘But I made it clear to them that I saw myself in a project that started from scratch, and in which decision-making was mine. Now that I have seen myself coaching, I think I can contribute things to the players.’
When asked what his vision would be for the club, Xavi insisted that the club needed to revert back to it’s age-old formula by employing talented wide-men on the wings.
The Al Sadd boss says he would make Neymar’s sensational return to the Nou Camp a reality
Xavi also revealed he would also target Bundesliga duo Jadon Sancho (L) and Serge Gnabry (R)
‘I’d sign wingers, like Neymar,’ Xavi said. ‘I don’t know if he’d fit in in terms of social reasons, but as a player I have no doubt he would be a spectacular signing.
‘Barcelona already have players who can play inside, but lack wingers like Bayern have. They don’t need a lot of new faces. Jadon Sancho, Serge Gnabry…’
The World Cup-winner also spoke about what his dream Barca team would look like with Antoine Griezmann a notable omission for the club going forward.
‘A lot of the squad seems extra-ordinary to me,’ he added. ‘Starting with the goalkeeper, [Marc-Andre ter Stegen] who seems to me the best in the world.
The 40-year-old maintains that former team-mate Lionel Messi is still the world’s best player
‘Jordi Alba is the best left-back in the world for me too. [Gerard] Pique, the best centre-back. [Sergio] Busquets the best defensive midfielder, and [Lionel] Messi, the best player in the world.
‘If we add [Luis] Suarez, [Frenkie] De Jong and Arthur, there are players to triumph for 10 years at Barca. The base is very good.’
Xavi rose through the ranks at Barcelona having being developed in the club’s fabled youth academy, La Masia.
He would go on to make 769 appearances for the club and was a part of one of the best midfield trios the game has ever seen alongside Andres Iniesta and Busquets.
Xavi enjoyed a trophy-laden career at Barca where he won the Champions League four times
Xavi won LaLiga eight times in his 17-year stay at the Nou Camp, picking up four Champions League winners medals, three Copa del Rey titles and a host of personal accolades along the way before retiring as a player at Al Sadd.
He also won European Championship on two separate occasions while he is a World Cup winner with Spain.
As a player, Xavi will go down as one of the greatest to have ever played the game with many wondering if he can replicate that success as a manager.
