FC Barcelona Coach Xavi Explains Lionel Messi’s Role And Position

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has explained what former teammate Lionel Messi’s position and role could be if he returns to the club during an interview with SPORT.

Messi is set to be football’s most sought-after free agent on June 30 when released from his Paris Saint Germain contract.

Amid big money offers from the Middle East and Premier
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League interest becoming apparent according to Ole, the 35-year-old is also linked to his former employers Barca.

On Monday evening, SPORT reported how the Blaugrana are not currently considered an option by Messi because of their failure to make a formal offer.

In an interview with the same Catalan newspaper, however, Xavi indicated that he is clearly banking on having the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner at his disposal and laid out what his role would be were he to return in 2023/2024.

Insisting that he wouldn’t change his La Liga-winning team’s current ideas and model, Xavi suggested that Messi “could play in several positions”. “False nine, winger, interior, even at the base [of the midfield] coming to make the last pass.”

Xavi noted that Messi has become “almost like a midfielder” in the twilight of his career, which was no better seen than at Qatar 2022 when he led his country to glory and a third world championship.

Conceding that the legendary number ’10’ has perhaps lost a little “explosiveness”, Xavi pointed out that still we saw an “extraordinary Messi” throughout the tournament.

“In the end I think he still has years ahead [of him] at a high level,” Xavi stated, adding that there is “no doubt” the veteran would help his blossoming outfit.

Now it remains to be seen if president Joan Laporta can make the deal happen, and get Barca’s economic house in order to convince La Liga they are capable of navigating Financial Fair Play limits.

Ultimately what also needs to be done is persuading the player and his father Jorge Messi that they should take a far lower €25 million ($26.7 million) a year at Camp Nou according to SPORT and not the astronomical €350 million ($373 million) per term placed on the table by Al-Hilal as El Chiringuito reports.