{"id":3775,"date":"2026-04-04T05:25:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T05:25:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=3775"},"modified":"2026-04-04T05:25:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T05:25:07","slug":"xavi-reveals-he-told-barcelona-to-sign-60m-arsenal-star-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=3775","title":{"rendered":"Xavi reveals he told Barcelona to sign \u00a360m Arsenal star | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27828153\" alt=\"FC Barcelona v UD Almeria - LaLiga Santander\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Xavi instructed Barcelona to sign Martin Zubimendi after Sergio Busquets\u2019 departure (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Xavi says he asked Barcelona to sign Martin Zubimendi as a replacement for Sergio Busquets when he was in charge at the Camp Nou.<\/p>\n<p>Zubimendi had been been earmarked as a potential Real Madrid or Barcelona player for several years after establishing himself as one of the finest central midfielders in Spanish football while playing for boyhood side Real Sociedad.<\/p>\n<p>But Liverpool jumped to the front of the queue for Zubimendi\u2019s signature in the summer of 2024 and appeared on the cusp of a deal, only for the 27-year-old to stay put at Sociedad for another season.<\/p>\n<p>Twelve months later, then Madrid manager Xabi Alonso placed Zubimendi \u2013 a player he had worked with at Sociedad \u2013 at the top of his wishlist to help fill the void left by club legends Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.<\/p>\n<p>Bernabeu bosses were unwilling to meet Sociedad\u2019s asking price for Zubimendi, though, and the Spain international would go on to sign for Arsenal in a deal worth in the region of \u00a360million.<\/p>\n<p>Zubimendi \u2013 who withdrew from international duty last week with a knee injury \u2013 has since made over 40 appearances in all competitions across an impressive debut season with Arsenal, with the Gunners sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League and battling it out for silverware across three fronts.<\/p>\n<p>For the most part, Barcelona were viewed as outsiders in the race to sign Zubimendi before the Euro 2024 winner decided to up sticks and leave San Sebastian for north London last year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tGet your football fix\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p><strong>Metro<\/strong>&#8216;s weekly newsletter In The Mixer delivers punchy analysis and breakdowns of the biggest football stories directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n<p>Sign up here, it&#8217;s an open goal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"402\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264279453.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27318404\" alt=\"Arsenal v Chelsea - Premier League\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Arsenal signed Zubimendi from Sociedad for a fee of \u00a360m last summer (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264794397.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27318421\" alt=\"Brighton &amp; Hove Albion v Arsenal - Premier League\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>The Spaniard had been linked with Madrid, Barca and Liverpool before joining the Gunners (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But in an explosive, tell-all interview with La Vanguardia, Xavi lifted the lid on his interest in signing Zubimendi while delving into the difficulties he encountered before his dismissal at Barca.<\/p>\n<p>Asked why he has decided to speak out two years on, Xavi told the Spanish newspaper: \u2018For several reasons. The main one is that I want to explain my side of the story. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018After leaving, I decided not to make any statements out of respect for\u00a0Barca. People know how much I love the club. My whole family are Barca fans.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"\/>\n<p>\u2018The story being told by the club is completely false, and I feel the need to explain myself \u2013 it\u2019s something I\u2019ve been carrying inside me, and I need to clarify it.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Though Xavi admits he made mistakes while in charge of Barca, he feels he was let down repeatedly by the club failing to meet his \u2018expectations\u2019 when it came to buying and selling players in the transfer market.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Of course we made mistakes and we\u2019ve been very self-critical, both personally and then with the staff through meetings,\u2019 the legendary ex-Barca and Spain midfielder continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018To summarise briefly, I\u2019d say my expectations of the club decreased over time. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-08.14.14-725c.png?w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27318445\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Xavi has lifted the lid on the months leading up to his Barca exit (Picture: La Vanguardia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018When I arrived from Qatar, in my first summer as manager, I even told the president that if we didn\u2019t sign certain players, I wouldn\u2019t continue because we couldn\u2019t compete at the highest level and he listened to me.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We won\u00a0La Liga, we were competitive against Real Madrid with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and others, who had just won the\u00a0Champions League.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The following summer, those expectations dropped, and that\u2019s what I regret.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-1238897121.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27318461\" alt=\"Napoli v FC Barcelona - UEFA Europa League\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Zubimendi was identified as Xavi\u2019s top target to replace Busquets (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pushed to elaborate, Xavi went on: \u2018Sergio Busquets was leaving so I asked them to sign Zubimendi and they told me no for financial reasons. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018Then Jordi Cruyff left because of the contempt they showed him \u2013 I mean, Cruyff\u2019s son. They, who carry the banner of Cruyffism\u2026 I told him, \u201cWhat are you saying? We just won the league\u201d, and a month and a half later, they let Mateu Alemany go as a director. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018At that point, I should have left too. While we were in control, the team kept improving, but as soon as they started making the decisions, and not by chance, the team went down.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"448\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264618577.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27318487\" alt=\"Arsenal Training Session\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Zubimendi was one of eight new additions at Arsenal last summer (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Asked if he shared a good personal relationship with Barcelona president Joan Laporta during his two-and-a-half year managerial spell, Xavi responded: \u2018Yes, very good.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018In fact, I signed for Barca thanks to him, but he ended up letting me down.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Xavi holds no ill will towards Hansi Flick, revealing how the German came to his house to apologise after replacing him in the hot seat in Catalonia in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We message each other constantly,\u2019 the 46-year-old explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I always congratulate him on the team, we talk about football\u2026 In fact, he once came to my house because of a difficult situation and that was very kind of him.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He came to apologise when I asked him if the club had actually been talking to him while I was the manager, during those two or three weeks when the club had already decided to let me go but no one told me directly.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He apologised, we talked for over two hours, it was fantastic. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018The club told him not to say anything to me,and that\u2019s why he came to my house to apologise. He\u2019s a good guy, very honourable, and I\u2019m glad he\u2019s doing well.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2265319702.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27318523\" alt=\"D.C. United v Inter Miami CF\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Xavi spoke to Messi about a return to Barca in early 2023 (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Later on in the wide-ranging interview, Xavi revealed how he was desperate for Lionel Messi to return three years ago \u2013 blaming \u2018those who are there now\u2019 for the missed opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Leo was already signed. In January 2023, after winning the World Cup, we got in touch and he told me he was keen to come back, and I saw it that way,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We talked until March and I told him, \u201cWell, when you give me the OK, I\u2019ll tell the president because I see it as a good fit for him from a footballing perspective\u201d, so the president started negotiating the contract with Leo\u2019s father.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We had the green light from\u00a0LaLiga\u00a0but it was the president who was throwing everything back.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Xavi went on: \u2018I was dying for Leo to come back and, even now, I still think he would help the team score goals, provide those final passes, without a doubt. He\u2019s going to play in a World Cup! <\/p>\n<p>\u2018Leo would triumph again at the Camp Nou and it was his wish and mine. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018He knows it, he knows it now, but there was a time when I couldn\u2019t get in touch with him. It was a shame, but it\u2019s the fault of those who are there now.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on <meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><br \/>\n<strong>Facebook,\u00a0<\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Metro_Sport\">Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: \u00a3130m former Premier League star told to snub Arsenal and join Chelsea instead<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Another Chelsea star drops transfer bombshell with latest Real Madrid claim<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Paul Merson convinced Chelsea star has already handed in transfer request<\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\">\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card accent--sport\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card__inner\">\n<h4>Football Newsletter \u2013 In The Mixer<\/h4>\n<p>Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro&#8217;s football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; 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display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/> Xavi reveals he told Barcelona to sign \u00a360m Arsenal star | Football<br \/>\n<br \/>#Xavi #reveals #told #Barcelona #sign #60m #Arsenal #star #Football<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Xavi instructed Barcelona to sign Martin Zubimendi after Sergio Busquets\u2019 departure (Picture: Getty) Xavi says&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3776,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1195,617,3907,317,653,394,654,1545,4400],"class_list":["post-3775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-60m","tag-arsenal","tag-barcelona","tag-football","tag-reveals","tag-sign","tag-star","tag-told","tag-xavi"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855.jpg",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855-300x158.jpg",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855-768x403.jpg",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855-1024x538.jpg",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855.jpg",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855.jpg",1200,630,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855-1115x630.jpg",1115,630,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855-1024x538.jpg",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1439288520_1775139855-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=6\" rel=\"category\">Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3775\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}