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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Davies

Liverpool's Sadio Mane and Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would struggle at Barcelona, says Xavi

Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez insists neither Liverpool's Sadio Mane or Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have the right style to succeed at his former club.

Aubameyang - who has scored 61 goals in 97 appearances for Arsenal since making a £56million transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2018 - has been heavily linked with a move away from north London this summer.

Likewise, Mane has emerged as one of Europe's most deadly forwards under Jurgen Klopp, scoring 14 goals and providing nine assists in 26 league games as Liverpool march towards a first ever Premier League title.

While Aubameyang has just one year left on his contract, the Gabon international is certainly the more likely to depart this summer, with Mane under contract with Liverpool until 2023.

And while Xavi, currently in charge of Qatari club Al-Sadd, acknowledges the pair "can kill you in open space", he warns the deadly duo would struggle to adjust to Quique Setien's style of play.

“Mane and Aubemayang can kill you in open space. But Barcelona need players who know how to move in small spaces,” Xavi said.

“I am thinking about player who would adapt to Barcelona and it’s not easy to find one. Samuel Eto’o was perfect as is Luis Suarez right now.”

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