Xavi's thread should be stickied in this section. Just like Pep's, Cruyff's and Tito's. He's the best midfielder in club history.
Postponing his return I hope he's talking all his coaching badges and already started working with youngsters in Aspire Academy.
He is probably doing that already,and I actually like he is taking his time and enjoying himself there,it took guys like Zidane & Lucho almost 10 years after retirement to prepare themselves for Barca & RM job,patience is a key and he need to take his time.
He will be Barca coach one day but you only have one chance to succeed here as a coach and he better be well prepared for it.
I agree with this. Their technique on the ball makes them look faster.
Barca has specifically said that Gomes' signing was an opportunity in the market for us to sign a really talented player. It's either you sign potentially world class players when they are young, and you take care of them and develop them, or you take out 100m and try to sign players that are world class already. In which case you might find that the players you want to sign already play for big clubs who don't want to sell. Why? Because they bought them at the same stage that we are buying Gomes now, have invested time and trust in them, developing them to world class level, and now expect a big fat check to let them go, or tell you to fuck off like PSG is telling us with Verratti.
Tell me one world class midfielder who doesn't play for a top club, because people are speaking only about the likes of Coutinho, Verratti, Isco, who can't be signed, or would cost 100m. There isn't one, because you don't become world class by playing for Valencia, or Monaco, or Marseille, or other teams like that. You become world class by playing at the highest level, in the best teams, in which case the price gets closer and closer to 80-100m, simply because top and rich clubs don't need the money.
Gomes' signing is the exact type of signing we have to make. Talented players that can become great players in 2 years. The comparison with Adama is so off the mark it's not even funny anymore.
Xavi useless? That's a myth. He was an undisputed starter for Barça at 23. Xavi was also the best player in the 2008 euro, before pep took over.I agree with you. Gomes can shine with a proper coach. At his age, Xavi was considered usless too but under Pep, Xavi became among the all-time greatest midfielders.
I agree with you. Gomes can shine with a proper coach. At his age, Xavi was considered usless too but under Pep, Xavi became among the all-time greatest midfielders.
Xavi useless? That's a myth. He was an undisputed starter for Barça at 23. Xavi was also the best player in the 2008 euro, before pep took over.
Yes, I followed Barça back then. Apparently you don't remember it well. And I'm not talking about general perception of people or a coach. Just that Xavi was already the player that shone under pep. When he was 23, he played over 4000 minutes for rijkaard, he was a starter.Not sure if you were old enough and followed Barca between 2003-2007. He wanted to leave in 2008.
He himself said this to L'Equipe: "Four or five years ago, I was deemed terrible and useless. I was Barca's cancer! Rijkaard did not believe in me"