La Liga legend accuses Barcelona of being ‘unfair’ to Xavi – ‘He’s suffered a lot’

Speaking in an interview with The Athletic, former Villarreal and Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has claimed that Xavi Hernandez was treated unfairly by Barcelona.

Cazorla played with Xavi for the Spanish national team and was later even under his management at Al Sadd in Qatar.

On Xavi’s change from player to manager

The 40-year-old, currently playing for his boyhood club Real Oviedo, opened up on his past interactions with Xavi and how the Barcelona legend had initially no plans of getting into management.

“Xavi once told me he hadn’t wanted to be a coach, but when he did the course something woke inside him,” revealed Cazorla.

Xavi coached Cazorla at Al Sadd from the summer of 2020 until November 2021, and the midfielder observed how the transition from player to coach had an effect on the Barcelona icon’s personality.

“As a player, Xavi was calm, reserved, and spoke in a low voice,” Cazorla said. “In his first half-time chat as my coach, he was super angry, banging his fist, throwing bottles. I thought it was not the same guy I knew.

“He told me later: ‘Santi, when you’re the coach, it’s all completely different. You’ll realise later if you want to do it yourself. You’ll need to change, to be able to manage a group of players.’”

On Xavi’s time at Barcelona

Talking about Xavi’s stint at Barcelona, Cazorla explained how the former midfielder took over the reins at the club when they were going through a difficult period and helped them challenge for titles again, while unearthing talents from La Masia.

And all this, Cazorla feels, was not valued by the club as they ended up sacking Xavi at the end of the last season.

“I know Xavi feels for Barcelona what I feel for Oviedo,” Cazorla said. “He took over in a low moment, due to his love of the club and wanting to help.

“He put faith in young players who today are emerging as world-class, like Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi. He got them back challenging for trophies. But that was not valued,” he added.

Calling Barcelona’s treatment of Xavi ‘unfair’, he added: “They were unfair with him and he’s suffered a lot. I’ve spoken with him, he’s had a very hard time.

The former Arsenal star confirmed that Xavi will return to management in the future, though, saying:

“He wants to rest now and spend time with his family. But in the future, he will coach again.”