Players at FC Barcelona must remain competitive or offer something truly unique to retain their importance within a top European club such as La Blaugrana if they hope to continue performing at the highest level while creating a name for themselves that stems from their own individuality.
One such player that Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez himself has taken an immense liking to in terms of influence on the field and a faith that has been translated into more game time has been 21-year-old Moroccan winger Ez Abde.
Particularly since the departure of French winger Ousmane Dembele to Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain, Xavi has been desperately looking for a profile that can replace the impact of the former Barcelona winger and the coach believes that the closest thing he has within his squad to replicate Dembele’s influence is the Moroccan winger.
According to Spanish outlet Diario AS, Xavi Hernandez has his mind set on blocking any possible offers for the young Moroccan and has displayed his own faith in him by essentially making him the 12th player for FC Barcelona, having counted on him in every single official game as the very first substitute for Barcelona.
In totality, he has already participated in 67 minutes out of a total of the 180 minutes played by Barcelona in official competitions, which amounts to almost 40% of the total time. To put it into perspective, this number exceeds those given to other players who play in the same position such as Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.
However, there continue to be reports that suggest that the player could still look to move away from the club if sustained minutes are not promised. Moreover, it is obvious that Barcelona do no rule out any possible departure if their economic needs require it.
Despite all this noise, Xavi remains clear about his plans for the Moroccan within his team and the 21-year-old himself remains committed to FC Barcelona and the club’s cause, with those within the locker room suggesting signs and feelings are positive regarding his continuity.
