Xavi approves Messi’s return to Barcelona and already has a scheme ready

The partnership between Barcelona and Messi is ready to be re-established. At least as far as coach Xavi Hernández is concerned. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper sportthe former teammate of the Argentine star said, this Monday (29), that his return would go very well in the team’s scheme.

“It would be practically the same system with Messi. Same idea and model. Leo (Messi) could play in several positions: false nine, wing, through the middle, or at the base coming to make the last pass”, said the coach.

The expectation of a return grew again with the proximity of the end of the Argentine midfielder’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain (it ends in the middle of the year). As the two parties have no interest in a renewal, speculation surrounding the player’s future is between returning to Spain, a transfer to Al Hilal, from Saudi Arabia, or a trip to Inter Miami, from MLS.

With Barcelona’s interest in having Messi again, Xavi has been an important part of this operation. He has been talking to the athlete, but he added that the outcome will be up to the Argentine. “I’m talking to Leo, but it’s up to him to decide what’s best,” he said in the interview.

On how to take advantage of Messi, Xavi admitted that changes can be made, but nothing that will compromise his performance. “He may have lost some of his explosiveness, but at the World Cup we saw Messi having an extraordinary World Cup. Deep down, I think he still has many years of football ahead of him.”

Messi’s arrival comes to strengthen Xavi’s work, which took shape this year at the head of the first team. In his second season, he won the Spanish Championship with four rounds to spare.

The project now is to fight for trophies again in European tournaments. “Barcelona has dropped out of the first round of the Champions League in the last two seasons and we have to be stronger to compete well with the big teams in Europe,” he said.