Nestled amongst the hundreds of transfer rumours currently flying about all over the internet and the newspapers is the report that the Barcelona midfield playmaker and World Cup winner Xavi Hernandez is Manchester City’s prime target during the summer period. It is not difficult to understand why. Man City seemingly have money to burn and they will be happy to splash the cash during this transfer window in order to strengthen a team fast filling up with star names. Xavi is arguably the best midfielder in the world right now and would be a credit to whatever team he played for.
The word is that Sheikh Mansour and the Blues are willing to put forward a Premiership record fee of £80 million for the Spaniard’s services. Plus, with Yaya Toure already commanding around £200,000 per week at City, it is likely that Xavi will be offered even higher wages to become the highest earning football player in the world. The question is though, will Xavi be convinced that coming to the Premier League next season is a good idea?
Quite simply, whether he does or not comes down to primarily one factor. What means more to Xavi; footballing success or monetary earnings? If it is the latter then expect to see him in a sky-blue shirt within the next few weeks. If it is the former, however, (which I am more inclined to believe) then there is absolutely no reason for Xavi to come to England at this stage of his career.
The fact is, Xavi is one of the most important players in the best club side in the world today. Indeed, Barcelona are definitely the best football team of their generation and are well on their way to becoming the greatest team of all time. To be truly considered as the greatest of all time though they will have to win the European Cup several more times, much like Liverpool and AC Milan have been able to. In the absence of Carlos Puyol last Saturday, Xavi also captained the side as they won their second European Trophy under the reign of Pep Guardiola. He was instrumental in the victory too, just as he was in 2009.
Add in being one half of the best midfield partnership in football along with Andres Iniesta (and if Xavi were to leave, that would be like the break up of a marriage), plus that at just 30 years of age the Spanish International has the potential to achieve even more in football, and I just cannot see why Xavi would want to leave. Why go from a hugely successful club, to one that might be successful next season, if they invest well?
Whilst at City he would still be able to form some fantastic midfield partnerships with the likes of Yaya Toure and fellow Spanish international David Silva, but it would still be a step down from the likes of Iniesta and Lionel Messi. Yes, City will be big challengers to the Premiership title next season and will undoubtedly make a good run in the Champions League too. But Xaxi leaving Barcelona? It just doesn’t seem feasible. Does it?
Well, as I’ve already discussed, the promise of those enormous sums of money could be all the persuasion the Barca No. 6 needs. I hope that this isn’t the case but the honest truth of the matter is, that with footballers these days you can never really be sure. Every man has a price, they say, and since the Spaniard could end up being offered anything up to half a million quid per week to continue his career at Manchester, he could end up being swayed to leave Barcelona. Xavi seems like a Barcelona player for life, but stranger things have happened in football before.
So, is Xavi heading to Manchester City? My educated opinion would be that no, he isn’t. However, the fact that I cannot say that with any level of certainty shows what an odd state the modern game is truly in.
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Here’s some quotes from your article Alex:
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“Man City seemingly have money to burn and they will be happy to splash the cash during this transfer window in order to strengthen a team fast filling up with star names.”
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RUBBISH, CITY HAVE STATED THAT THEY WILL BRING IN TWO PLAYERS TO STRENGTHEN AND SELL/RELEASE UP TO TEN PLAYERS TO MOVE TOWARDS BALANCING THE BOOKS FOR EUFA ‘FAIR PLAY RULES’ REASONS.
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“The word is that Sheikh Mansour and the Blues are willing to put forward a Premiership record fee of £80 million for the Spaniard’s services”
RUBBISH, THE WORD IS THAT CITY WILL NOT PAY OVER THE TOP PRICES ANYMORE, THEY DON’T NEED TO AND HAVE INDICATED THIS TO UDINESE RE ALEXIS SANCHEZ OFFER.
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“…at just 30 years of age the Spanish International has the potential to achieve even more in football, and I just cannot see why Xavi would want to leave (Barcelona)”
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AT 30 YEARS OF AGE BARCA HAVE SEEN HIS BEST YEARS AND NOBODY BUT NOBODY WILL PAY £80M FOR A 30 YEAR OLD.
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“So, is Xavi heading to Manchester City? My educated opinion would be that no, he isn’t”
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EDUCATED!!!!!!!!!!!
THERE IS NOTHING EDUCATED OR EVEN MODERATELY WELL INFORMED ABOUT THE TOSH IN YOUR ‘ARTICLE’.
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What a load of utterly cliche -ridden drivel.
“Willo he stay to win tthings at Barca or will he follow the money”
This website just got a “Hide publication” click on my newsnow.
JEALOUS united or liverpool fan writer obviously
Alex watt, your quite simply putting it, a fabricating liar.
‘What means more to Xavi; footballing success or monetary earnings?’
That sentence alone told me to stop reading and I did with great pleasure, you are an amateur playing journalist at the most.
City are not making any huge signings, City have already walked away from Alexi Sanchez because the price was too high and Sanchez was taking his time so what makes you think up this myth?
Xavi is probably a target for city and with barca wanting to make room for Cesc Fab,then maybe its a story.City do want to build good relations with Barca and helping them along with a few pounds is a good way.I for one wouldnt be shocked.Save wages from Adebayor and Santa cruz and that would cover his wages.
Quite possibly the biggest load of tripe I’ve ever read. City already have Yaya, De Jong, Milner, Barry, Johnson and Silva in midfield. They have some extremely talented youngsters like Razak coming through.The last thing they will spend a world record fee on is a 30 year old whose best years are behind him. City are making steps toward making the fair play regulations which is why players such as SWP, RSC, Bellamy, Jo, Bridge and Bellamy will be moved on in the summer in order to reduce the wage bill. The policy of city in the near future will be to invest in the best young prospects in world football, rather than pay over the odds for established stars. If a marquee signing can be made, then I am sure they would sign Messi or Ronaldo if it were possible (I’m not saying it ever will be!) but to suggest they would pay £80 mill and world record wages for a thirty year old is just plain thick. Please never ever use the phrase “educated opinion” ever again. It is plain to everyone who has read this article that your opinion is anything but educated, and I would guess you are fifteen years old and “learn” about footballers from playing championship manager on your PC.
Really enjoyed it Fish Eyes! Some very negative comments here – I’d like to think that there is little to no chance of him leaving but you are so right – the transfer window is not predictable at all. David Silva was always going to leave valencia last year but you would never have thought that he would have been lured by money – but there you go!
No serious top footballer would even consider to move to City. That’s a fact!
once a red always Blue … Carlos Tevez
I do love it when lesser educated mere mortals, commonly known as jealous rags, start spouting bollocks. Number one, the team is already full of top players including one World Cup winner. Number two, it is funny when people spout forth and then say “That’s a fact.” NO IT’S NOT YOU THICK TWAT. IT’S YOUR OPINION. IT HAPPENS TO BE WRONG. BUT THAT’S LIFE. MAN CITY GOT 71 POINTS. THAT’S A FACT. YOU ARE A TWAT IS AN OPINION. BUT JUDGING BY THE OTHER REPLIES ON HERE, 99% OF THE POPULATION CAN@T BE WRONG!!!!!
Guys feel free to disagree with the article but please note that I am a Liverpool fan not a Man United fan. Plus I have no ill will towards Man City and I didn’t intend for this article to be seen as an attack on that club. If you do manage to get Xavi then fair play to you…
Tick tock Marc tick tock…… oh & this article was clearly written by a deluded Rag, get back to your plastic armchair pal MUTV just had a video of the parade of millions of reds walking along side your bus!
remember when rio ferdinand went to united,what was then a new record about 30 million,nobody moaned then did they.now it s man city you ars all moaning about city.so i suggest you all put your dummies back in and get over it,man city have always been a huge club,with great support from manchester,unlike our red neighbours(yorkshire railway club)there you have it yorkshire,not lancashire.remember the old saying every dog has its day,well man utd ,liverpool,arsenal,have had theirs.now its man citys turn
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