Javier Saviola hopes Xavi Hernandez will return to Barcelona as manager in the future if possible.
Former striker Javier Saviola has backed former teammate Xavi Hernandez to return to Barcelona in the future after the 44-year-old left the club at the end of last season, according to Ufabet Sport.
Xavi spent two and a half years as Barcelona manager, helping the Blaugrana win La Liga and the Super Cup in the 2022-23 season, before the Catalan giants ended last season empty-handed and the club parted ways with Xavi and appointed Hansi Flick as their new manager.
‘We must not forget what Xavi did. I had the chance to speak to him, as a friend, and we talked about how he did not have the best time, that he did a great job. When you do not win trophies, it seems you have not done anything. All the boys who come and are trained by Xavi, hopefully one day they will find happiness in another team and in the future, hopefully they can come back to Barcelona and do well, that is what he wants,’ Saviola said.
For Saviola, who just spent a season as coach of Barcelona’s Under-19s, where he had the opportunity to work with Lamine Yamal, the former Argentine UFABET forward has certainly had his say on the 17-year-old forward, calling for comparisons with the likes of Lionel Messi, as David Villa Sanchez has previously said.
‘We realised how much he was capable of when he was 15. You could tell just by looking at him he was special. There are only a few people who have that ability and see football like that.’
‘We know we have great potential. He listens to advice from others a lot. It’s a collection of things. Not only are they great footballers, but we’re also dealing with someone who’s really ready.’
‘Comparisons with Messi are not good for Lamine. I hope he follows in his footsteps, but he has to work hard.’