FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.06.2010 15:02

Xavi: “I want to hang up my boots here”

Edgar Fornós / Roger Bogunyà

Xavi Hernandez is delighted to have secured a deal that will keep him at the Club until 2016. He told us “I want to hang up my boots here”.

Xavi spoke to Barca TV and fcbarcelona.cat on Tuesday after rumours had circulated that he could be put on the transfer list depending on who wins the upcoming presidential elections: “I wanted to know that I’m not going anywhere. I’m very grateful to President Laporta and to director of sport Txiki Begiristain because they listened to me. It’s what I want. I’m a big Barca fan and I’m very happy”.

Through to retirement

Xavi will remain under contract with Barca until 2014 at least and now has the chance to extend his career at the Club until 2016, when he’ll be 36: “I’ve been involved with Barca all my life, coming up through the ranks, and I’d like to hang up my boots here. My only objective is to retire here”.

Laporta: “It’s a really nice story”

Joan Laporta was equally pleased with the deal and revealed that there had been a three-way agreement on the terms between Xavi, the Club and Laporta himself: “It’s great news for the Club. Xavi’s story is a really nice one. A boy who played in the youth teams and made his first team debut when he was 18”. Xavi is now every close to beating Migueli’s all-time record of appearances for Barca.

Winning ways

According to the Club president, Xavi has plenty of ambition left: “Xavi told me that they’re going to keep on winning”.

However, on a more personal note, Mr Laporta told us: “We should be grateful to Xavi. From the moment he became one of the captains of the team, with players like Puyol, Iniesta, Valdés, Messi and Piqué, he has shown the personal and sporting profile which proves that the youth academy has triumphed”.