‘It hasn’t been easy’… Barcelona legend opens up on Xavi’s departure

TOPSHOT - Barcelona Spanish coach Xavi waves during a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on May 25, 2024. Text in the background reads in Catalan "Always with Barcelona".

Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images

Although it has been some years since the two played together for Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta remain two of the biggest legends to have played for the Catalan club. They were integral parts of the engine room of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side that conquered Europe with its tiki-taka style.

Even after parting ways with the club and one another, the two former Blaugrana players still remain close to one another, and frequently comment on the developments taking place in one another’s career.

Iniesta recently talked to the Spanish outlet SPORT, and one of the topics he talked about was the dismissal of Xavi Hernandez from the Catalan club. The La Masia graduate made clear his feelings on the matter:

“From the outside, it hasn’t been easy in terms of how things have developed or how they’ve happened. That’s the only thing I can say. In the end, he was a teammate and he’s my friend, and the way the situation has unfolded hasn’t been ideal, but it is what it is.”

“From there, everyone will look for what’s best. The club will do what’s best for the club, and we’ll see where Xavi can continue coaching in the near future.”

The former midfielder also talked about his desire for a possible return to Barcelona in the future:

“My feelings will never change; I hope that at some point in my life and career, the possibility of returning to Barça will come up. Because the context is good, everything is set for it to happen.”

“But as of today, talking about what or how doesn’t make sense. Would I like it? Of course. My goal is to get my coaching license and we’ll see what happens and where life takes us. It’s one of my objectives.”

Iniesta remains one of the most beloved midfielders to have taken the pitch with the Barcelona jersey and was one of the very few players respected and liked by even the fans of rival clubs. Thus, like Iniesta himself, most Blaugrana fans will also be hoping that he can return to the club at some point in the future.