Former Barcelona ace midfielder and potential coach, Xavi, has expressed that Lionel Messi has another “seven very good years” left in the tank and tips the attacker to remain at the Nou Camp until he is 39 years old.
Football’s GOAT Messi has won almost everything there is to win in football since moving to Barcelona from his youth days home team Newell’s Old Boys in 2010.
And although the 32-year-old has six Ballon d’Or’s to his name – one more than Cristiano Ronaldo – he has yet to win the World Cup with Argentina, a befuddling phenomenon to say the least.
This has prompted Xavi to believe that will serve as the raison d’etre and primary motivation for Messi who has been tipped to represent his country at the next international event in 2022 in Qatar.
“He’s still got five or seven very good years left in him,” Xavi said of Messi during an Instagram chat with Samuel Eto’o.
“He takes good care of himself and he can keep playing until he’s 37, 38 or 39. He’ll play at the Qatar World Cup, I’m sure.”
Messi has since been frequently linked with a move away from Barcelona in recent months after a series of incendiary fall outs with club bosses.
The forward was particularly vexed with the way head coach Ernesto Valverde was axed and the subsequent lamentable handling of the matter thereafter by the club bosses, particularly Eric Abidal, the Director of Sports.
The Catalan giants had initially approached Xavi, who managed Qatar side Al Sadd, to replace Valverde but he turned them down and they instead appointed Quique Setien.
“In January, it wasn’t the right moment,” Xavi explained.
“I had conversations with Eric Abidal [Barcelona’s sporting director] and Oscar Grau [Barcelona chief executive] and a big offer, but it wasn’t the right moment.
“I need a bit more experience. Coaching Barcelona is my dream. I’d like to do it one day. I’ve said that many times.”
Barcelona slated to win the La Liga title this year as they are currently at the top of the table.
With rivals Real Madrid expected to reinforce all areas of their squad this summer, Xavi would like to see Barcelona do likewise by bringing Neymar back from Paris Saint-Germain.
“Footballing wise, he’s in the top three or five players in the world, no doubt,” Xavi added.
“He can make the difference. Let’s hope he returns to Barcelona.
“I’m a Barcelona fan and I want the best players there.”