Barcelona manager Xavi has expressed a strong desire to bring a brilliant midfielder from Arsenal, not Jorginho or Thomas Partey, onto his coaching staff for the upcoming season. Xavi’s aspirations are rooted in his belief that this particular player possesses all the qualities necessary to eventually become an elite coach in the world of football.
Xavi, a football legend renowned for his intelligence and mastery of the game, transitioned seamlessly into coaching after retiring as a player. He is widely regarded for his deep understanding of football’s fundamental principles. During his tenure as Barcelona’s manager, he has sought to implement a style of play reminiscent of the iconic Pep Guardiola era while upholding the club’s core values, which involve a strong reliance on La Masia, the youth academy.
Before taking the helm at Barcelona, Xavi gained valuable coaching experience in Qatar while managing Al Sadd. During this period, he introduced significant changes to the team’s style of play, with the help of his midfield maestro, Santi Cazorla. This legendary Arsenal midfielder joined Xavi in Qatar in 2020, and their collaboration lasted just over a year, during which Cazorla also served as the team’s captain.
As Cazorla now approaches the twilight of his playing career, he continues to demonstrate his footballing genius with Real Oviedo in La Liga 2. Xavi, an ardent admirer of the Spanish midfielder, has long held the desire to bring Cazorla onto his coaching staff at Barcelona. This revelation comes as part of a report by Victor Navarro.
The recent meeting between the two took place at Barcelona Sports City, where Oviedo trained at the club’s facilities following their 2-1 victory against CE Manresa in the Copa del Rey. At the age of 38, Cazorla’s playing days are numbered, especially considering his limited participation this season, having started only one game and averaging no more than 25 minutes across seven appearances. It’s increasingly likely that this could be Cazorla’s final season as a professional footballer.
Xavi and Cazorla share a history of facing each other on the football pitch, especially during their respective peaks from 2007 to 2012 in La Liga. During this period, Cazorla eventually left Spain to join Arsenal for a significant transfer fee of €19 million. Additionally, they both represented the Spanish National Team, contributing to their country’s football success over several years.
