Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi believes former team-mate Neymar has ‘zero’ chance of returning to the Catalan club in the future.
Neymar spent four seasons at Camp Nou between 2013 and 2017, but left in a cloud to join Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee of €222 million after the Parisian club paid the Brazilian’s release clause.
The 26-year-old is now in his second season at the Parc des Princes, but is reportedly open to a move back to Barcelona, having made five trips to the Catalan capital to visit his former team-mates since his departure in August last year.
But in an interview with Cadena SER, Xavi said: “I don’t see it. Neymar didn’t leave in a very good manner. I don’t see it at all. I see zero chance that he can return to Barcelona.”
The former World Cup winner also believes the Brazilian has some growing up to do if he is to fully realise his huge potential.
“As a player, if he matures, he’s amazing,” he said. “And he can be close to Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Lionel] Messi.”
Xavi never won the Ballon d’Or in an era dominated by both Ronaldo and Messi, but that duopoly looks set to be broken this time with Luka Modric the favourite to claim the individual award next month.
“He would be a fair winner, why not?” Xavi said. “We say it never goes to a midfielder who marks the style in their teams. Modric has won three Champions Leagues (in a row) and he was a World Cup finalist. It would be fair.”
And asked about Antoine Griezmann ahead of Barca’s game against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, Xavi said: “For me, with Messi there is no comparison. The closest is Cristiano and [Antoine] Griezmann is a level below, in that order.”
The 38-year-old midfielder, who is still playing in Qatar with Al Sadd, also ruled out a swan song in the Premier League.
“I don’t have that thorn [in my side],” he said. “For me, La Liga is still the best competition in the world. The Spanish teams are ahead. I like more technical football, with more talent, and the Premier League is more physical.”
Xavi is planning to retire next year and is widely considered to be an option as a future coach for Barcelona.
“I’m preparing mentally to be a coach,” he said. “The idea is to start here. I need a lot of time. Everyone sees me [at Barca], but I don’t see it. In the summer, I will start, but Barca is a big word…”
