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Prior to Euro 2008, Xavi felt that Barcelona were no longer opposed to the idea of ​​selling him.

Real Madrid were then Spanish champions, Juan Laporta planned a revolution in the squad and the then-28-year-old midfielder was already mentally preparing for the move.

"I left the team knowing that if a good offer came in, Barcelona would sell me," Xavi told Marca in a 2015 interview.

"My agent said there was a good offer from Bayern Munich, but then Pep Guardiola was appointed the new coach and I had a great Euro tournament. Pep told me he could not imagine Barcelona without me, that it was impossible for me to leave. He managed to convince me."

Pep was not supposed to get Barcelona that summer.

Laporta generally wanted Jose Mourinho.

What would have happened if?

You can only imagine.

Now, more than 13 years after that summer that built one of the most famous teams in the history of world football, those same figures are closing the circle.

President Laporta once again thought of other coaches before succumbing to pressure from fans and the media, and locked (as then), a contact who was one of the club's symbols, gained experience and experience in Qatar and returned with the aim of restoring identity to Barça, with Guardiola's shadow hovering above.

So will Xavi be able to be Pep?

More on Walla!

Xavi's madness in Barcelona has begun, but the revolution he is planning has already taken a hit

To the full article

Barça need to be returned to Barcelona.

Xavi (Photo: Reuters)

This is not the first time Xavi has been required to address this question. She accompanied his beginnings as an actor for quite a few years. Many remember the player who stood at the center of Barcelona's tiki-taka and managed the field of the Spanish national team in its heyday, but on the way to achieving his status in the world top he had to overcome quite a few bumps.

Even then he was already on his way out of Barcelona, ​​having failed to get into Guardiola's shoes. Xavi was relegated back to the reserve team and received an offer from AC Milan, but his mother forced him to stay. "It was stressful to grow as a midfielder in Guardiola's shadow, but it was not his fault," Xavi said in his day as an actor. "He really treated me the best he could. He always supported me and asked me not to comment on all the comparisons and reviews."

Patience then paid off for Barcelona as well as Xavi.

He established himself as one of the most important players in the club's history and eventually left in 2015 with 25 titles in 17 seasons, including eight championships and four Champions League wins.

Bottom line, he will be remembered as a bigger footballer than the man he was asked to net.

Since his breakup, Barça have not even come close to the European title.

One semi-final, and that's all.

Pep, who has been replaced by eight coaches at Barcelona since his tenure, hopes both sides will have the same patience to allow his successor on the pitch to make a similar move on the lines as well.

"I have no doubt Xavi is ready for this role," the Manchester City coach said this week.

"He knows the game, he has a passion and he knows how things go at the club, which is a very important thing. He also has more experience than I had when I got the team. I hope with his help Barcelona will return to its greatness."

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Quite a bit similar to the appointment in 2008.

Pep Guardiola with Joan Laporta (Photo: Reuters)

Xavi refused Barcelona's previous management and also rejected a proposal from Laporta in favor of extending a contract at al-Saad, after having generally supported his rival Victor Font in the presidential race. And yet, it was clear that it was only a matter of time before this matchmaking came to fruition. After all, Xavi was defined as the future coach of Barcelona back in his 20s as a player. He always learned, always examined the game from different angles and loved the aspects that require thinking. It's meant to happen.

He chose to do the internship in Qatar. After four years as an al-Saad player, the midfielder was appointed coach in May 2019 and took the time to learn the role and develop. In the first season he failed to win the championship (although he lost only five times), in the second season he already galloped to the title without a loss and this season also marched al-Saad to the top. He leaves her undefeated in the league and after seven titles in total.

"I've spent hours watching the team's games and his development since he was coach," Barki told Marakir Sports' Mar Olafson, who serves as chief analyst for al-Arabi, one of al-Saad's rivals in Qatar.

"It was fascinating just to follow the development of his attitude from the day he started to the point where he is today. People do not understand what work he did at Al-Saad. It would be superficial to talk only about Barcelona and Tiki-Taka. What he has done here is really exciting and innovative." .

Not just tiki-taka.

Xabi as Al Saad coach (Photo: Reuters)

Xavi was loyal in the beginning to the traditional 4-3-3 he knew from Barcelona, ​​based on the teachings of Johan Cruyff, but gradually allowed himself to diversify. Al-Saad changed methods a lot and this season he only played with three brakes. Sometimes it's 3-4-3, sometimes it's 3-5-2 and sometimes it's 3-4-1-2. The lineup has changed, but the goal remains the same: to control the pace of the game. Or as he aptly put it in one of his interviews as a player: "I'm obsessed with ball possession." After all, this is what he was taught from the age of 11, from the day he took the first train from Terrace to Barcelona.

"The most important and beautiful thing in football is to hold the ball and move forward when it's on your feet," Xavi recently explained his line as a coach, advocating control of pace, high pressure and of course a game of dedication. "There are two ways to play football: you can do it in the physical, direct, or technical style, using ball touches and combinations. It's an argument that will last forever, you can win both ways. Pleasure for viewers. It's a matter of taste. "

This is exactly what is expected in Barcelona.

After two greyish coaches like Ernesto Valvareda and Ronald Koeman, fans are begging for the familiar style.

And who like Xavi is able to provide it.

Barcelona played this season at times like a bottom team in England, with endless and purposeless funds, and long balls that heralded despair towards a goal-scorer like Luc de Jong.

The team was eliminated in front of top European clubs and found it difficult to dictate the pace of the game even against inferior rivals.

That Xavi sleeps anyway, even if it is not immediately reflected in the results.

His Barcelona looked at times like a bottom team in England, but at least left a promising base.

Ronald Koeman (Photo: Reuters)

Xavi as mentioned could have come back even before that, but chose to wait. Like in his days as a teenager, when he did not dare to wear Barça's tracksuit on the street because he did not want to be treated differently and feared unnecessary attention. Until he was prepared for it. Now for his approach he is more prepared, even if the current situation of Barcelona is far from ideal.

Not to be forgotten, Xavi entered exactly the same sick bed in which Koeman lay helpless. The Dutch coach was the easy victim of a difficult situation, and Barcelona are still in crisis. His 41-year-old replacement arrives at a conflicted and complicated club, with limited financial capacity and without the superstar who has kept Barcelona alone in recent years.

Koeman has left him at least a worthy base for the future with players like Pedry, Gabby, Nico, Ronald Araujo and above all Anso Patti who has returned from a serious injury and is set to be the face of the club.

There is a promising skeleton made in La Asia, as in his days as an actor.

He, for his part, will need to know how to maneuver politically (a complex issue for those who are obsessed with control), harm procurement according to restrictions and in the first stage at least keep the place in the Champions League which means safe money.

Will receive much more love and also more patience than his predecessor.

Xavi (Photo: GettyImages)

Like Pep, Xavi also gets Barcelona for the first time after a Dutch coach that the media and the crowd were just waiting to get rid of (then Rijkaard and this time Koeman).

Like Pep, he too needs to rebuild a team without its big star (then Ronaldinho and this time Messi) and re-assimilate the distinct philosophy that has accompanied Barcelona since the days of Cruyff.

Like Pep, they will show a little more patience towards him, just by being an iconic figure.

The prestige of the position and the identity that distinguishes Barcelona from other clubs, Xavi has already returned with his appointment.

Now only the small part of the success remains.