Xavi never saw €47 million Premier League midfielder as a fit for Barcelona – report

Since Xavi took over the reins at Barcelona, his say has mattered a lot in the transfer strategy of FC Barcelona. The Puppet Master foresaw 12 signings after taking over mid-season in the 2021/22 campaign.

While some players were simply considered stopgaps in compliance with the club’s financial situation, Xavi never had a problem with the profiles being acquired, believing there could be some upside to the players at his disposal.

However, it appears that Ruben Neves, who was previously highly linked with a move to Barca, never gained enough consensus from the coaching staff.

As talks between Al-Hilal and Neves advance rapidly, Alfredo Martínez has come out to claim that Xavi never saw Rúben Neves as a player for Barcelona, opposing his signature, despite clear inklings of a potential signing.

The midfielder had already agreed personal terms with the Blaugrana board, which was indicative of the club’s interest in him.

Even so, Xavi’s disinterest in the Portuegese stemmed from the fact that he was not a priority for the positions he had short-listed.

Requiring a pivot, striker, and creative interior, Neves’ profile was more akin to Frenkie de Jong rather than Sergio Busquets, which meant he was almost entirely a luxury signing.

Taking the Catalans’ delicate finances into account, obtaining Neves meant signing a great player, but with no immediate role in the squad.

As Al-Hilal have entered the scene with great interest in Neves’ services, the likelihood of Xavi breathing a sigh of relief has risen.

Even so, Barcelona are yet to finalize the signing of a midfielder and now run the risk of concluding the season without any reinforcements in midfield.