Xavi wants legendary Arsenal midfielder on his Barcelona coaching staff – report

As one of the greatest ever to play the game, Xavi understands the principles of the sport better than most do. He was the most intelligent players on the pitch ten out of ten times he graced it, and him becoming a coach was the most natural progression.

Over his two-plus stint as a Barcelona manager, he has tried to implement a Pep Guardiola-esque style of play into his time, while also integrating the qualities that the institution stands for by constantly relying on La Masia.

Before becoming the Barça coach, though, he spent his early managerial years in Qatar coaching Al Sadd. He transformed the way they played football, in large part thanks to his leader in midfield, Santi Cazorla.

The legendary Arsenal midfielder joined him in Qatar in 2020, where they spent just over a year together before Xavi left for Barcelona. Cazorla was also captain of the team when the Barça man coached them.

Now on the final juncture of his career, Cazorla showcases his genius for Real Oviedo in La Liga 2. Xavi is a huge fan of the Spaniard, always has been, and wants him to join his Barcelona coaching staff, as per a report by Victor Navarro.

The duo met at Barcelona Sports City today as Oviedo trained at the club’s facilities after their 1-2 win against CE Manresa in the Copa del Rey.

Now 38, Cazorla is not expected to continue playing for much longer. In fact, having started just one game so far this season, and averaging no more than 25 minutes across seven games, this might be his last season as a professional footballer.

Xavi and Cazorla faced each other multiple times during their peaks, especially in La Liga through 2007 to 2012, when the latter eventually left to join Arsenal for €19 million. They were also part of the Spanish National Team setup for several years.