ONE | system
together again Xavi and Iniesta (Barcelona’s Twitter)
While Xavi is coaching Barcelona, Pep Guardiola’s legendary midfield partner from a decade or so ago – Andres Iniesta – is still playing for Japan’s Vissel Kobe. This week, a day after the World Cup victory of another partner of theirs from the past – Leo Messi, Iniesta came to visit Barca training and met with Xavi and the players. Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning goal scorer is signed to Whistler Cuba until January 2024, but will he return to team up with Xavi?
In an interview with the Catalan newspaper ‘Sport’ he was asked Iniesta Will he return to Barca and be Xavi’s assistant. “Let’s see,” said the midfielder, “I’m not saying it’s impossible, but right now it’s difficult. I just hope that Barca will succeed. On the personal side, we’ll see what happens with me in the future and I hope that in the future I can come back here.”
Just a few weeks ago, Iniesta met for the first time Pedri, who was called his successor. “There are things we are similar in,” said the veteran midfielder, “we play in the same position and our movement is also similar. There will always be comparisons, even when I arrived in the first team of Barca it existed.”
Meanwhile, Xavi He said for the rest of the season: “If we can’t sign players in January, that’s fine. I told Matteo Elman not to change the squad too much, I’m satisfied with the players we have, the squad is excellent.”
And what about Messi? As we know, he has not yet extended his contract with PSG, the favorite to be his team next season. A decision on the matter will be made soon, but in the meantime at ‘Mundo Deportivo’ they are wondering if this is even the right step. The column in the newspaper read: “Messi should not return to Barcelona. He will still be an effective scorer and playmaker, but do we really want to go back? His signing will slow down the rebuilding. Xavi is building a competitive team that leads the Spanish league.”
