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Xavi reveals tactical plan for Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
In the unlikely scenario that Lionel Messi’s desired return from Paris Saint-Germain happens, Xavi has no worries about how he will be reintegrated back into Barcelona’s team.
After a two-year stay in the French city, the Catalan giants are making a strong effort to bring the 35-year-old back to Camp Nou, and 90min recently disclosed that the club is confident of making an announcement shortly.
To compete with Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Arabian oligarchs Al Hilal are ready to offer Messi a deal that would make him the highest-paid player in the world. They are aiming to entice Messi to the nation.
Clubs in the MLS are also interested in signing Messi, although a transfer to Europe now seems doubtful.
Despite their continued financial difficulties, Barcelona has been quite vocal in its chase of Messi. President Joan Laporta has repeatedly stated that the club’s doors are always open for him, and manager Xavi has publicly toyed with the possibility of him returning.
In an interview with Spanish publication SPORT, Xavi has now said that Barcelona would easily be able to facilitate Messi’s return from a tactical standpoint, and is in no doubt that he can continue competing at the highest level for a number of years.
“Leo could play in various positions: as a false nine, as a winger, as an inside player, even at the base of midfield coming in to make the final pass,” Xavi said.
In relation to his advancing age, the Spaniard added that “perhaps he has been losing his explosiveness, but we also saw an extraordinary Messi at the World Cup, with explosiveness. In the end I think he still has years ahead of him, at a very high level. Today there is no doubt that he would help us.”
Others worry about Messi’s lack of defensive vigilance since he frequently fails to track back, leaving PSG vulnerable to attacks from behind.
But Xavi revealed that “in the end, work and obligations are the same for everyone. And we’ve seen it with Robert Lewandowski, a world-class player, who has adapted very well to our high pressing, to our pressure after loss of the ball, to our low midfield block. It’s the same for the players who can be brought in. It’s the same.”
Messi will have the chance to break the record for most goals scored in Europe’s top five leagues if he decides to move back to Catalonia.
By scoring for PSG against Strasbourg, he just surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s 495-goal mark, doing it in 51 less games and 4,030 fewer minutes.