In an interview granted to FIFA following the draw for the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup, former Barcelona supervisor Xavi Hernandez praised Lionel Messi, who will take part within the competitors with Inter Miami.
The long-lasting former midfielder took the chance to say that, regardless of his controversial dismissal as head coach of Barcelona, he nonetheless enjoys watching the membership’s matches.
Nonetheless, he added that no participant from the Catalan membership or wherever else captivates him fairly just like the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“Who’s the participant I take pleasure in watching essentially the most? It’s nonetheless Leo. Leo Messi. I take pleasure in watching Barcelona win; I take pleasure in many footballers on this planet. However for me, Messi continues to be primary by way of expertise,” mirrored the previous Barcelona supervisor.
Though Barcelona is not going to take part within the event, the best participant within the membership’s historical past can be in motion with Inter Miami being drawn in the identical group as Palmeiras, Porto, and Al-Ahly.
Xavi nonetheless sees Messi because the No. 1. (Picture by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Photos)
In the course of the interview, Xavi analysed the distinction between Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona and the Spanish nationwide staff that dominated between 2008 and 2012, saying:
“Maybe the distinction was Messi. We didn’t have Leo within the nationwide staff, we didn’t have a participant as distinctive as him, so we needed to rely extra on the staff and collective play.
“However we nonetheless achieved success: the European Championship, the World Cup, the European Championship. And at Barcelona, we additionally had an excellent era that received every thing.”
Lastly, Xavi described the Membership World Cup as “thrilling” and “a possibility for golf equipment from around the globe, past the European ones that already compete at a really excessive stage.”
He added, “I consider this competitors can be a turning level. It will likely be fantastic for any membership on this planet. Soccer followers can be keen to observe.”
Supply: SPORT