Xavi: I want to go back to Barcelona Barcelona He would sign Neymar-esque wingers

Xavi Hernandez feels ready to take charge of Barcelona, as Johan Cruyff once predicted.

However, he has made clear that he would want to start afresh at the Camp Nou if he were to become head coach.

"I am clear that I want to return to Barcelona, I am very excited," Xavi said in an interview with La Vanguardia.

"Maybe years ago I could give myself some respect, but now that I have seen myself coaching I think I can bring things to the players.

"But I made it clear to them that I saw myself in a project that started from zero, and in which the decision making was mine."

It is worth remembering that the Blaugrana contacted him in January to see if he would replace Ernesto Valverde, but Xavi rejected the proposal. It was not the right time.

Despite the fact that the negotiations came to light from the very first moment, Xavi assures that he was not bothered by it.

"I have no problem: I don't hide, I don't take it back," he explained.

"I would like to work together with people in whom I have confidence, with whom there is loyalty, and who are very valid people.

"There can't be anyone toxic around the dressing room."

In addition, the Catalan has stated that he would be in favour of some former players returning to the club, such as Carles Puyol.

"I'm very much a team player; I don't want to decide alone," Xavi noted.

"Here [at Al Sadd], we make decisions with the staff... it is a horizontal structure, of consensus. Even though I have the last word on the matter".

When discussing Cruyff's prediction that Xavi would one day become Barcelona head coach, he discussed the legendary Dutchman.

"He told me that they would come looking for me and gave me advice," he intimated.

"If football is a religion, he was their god."

Xavi is very clear that he wants to work comfortably when he takes over the team.

"I would like to be very in tune with everyone," he said.

" There can't be anyone in the dressing room who is negative, toxic, and the medical issue is important - everything has to fit.

"I'd like to go in with people from my environment to make a good team."

Xavi even has a rough idea of what he wants his Barcelona team to look like, heaping praise on some members of the current squad and not forgetting the likes of Neymar, who left in 2017.

"I find much of the current squad extraordinary," the Catalan revealed.

"Starting with the goalkeeper, who I think is the best in the world; Jordi Alba, for me, is the best left-back in the world; [Gerard] Pique, the best central defender in the world; [Sergio] Busquets, the best defensive midfielder in the world; and [Lionel] Messi, the best player in the world.

"And, if you add [Frenkie] De Jong and Arthur [Melo], they seem to me to be footballers that can succeed for 10 more years at Barcelona. The base is very good.

"I would sign wingers, like Neymar - I do not know if he would fit in a non-football sense, but football-wise I do not have doubts that he would be a spectacular transfer.

"Barcelona already have a style of play in the middle of the park... but they lack wingers like Bayern [Munich] have.

"There don't need to be many new ones: Jadon Sancho, Serge Gnabry..."

Beyond his future on Barcelona's bench, the Catalan has reviewed other subjects linked to his sports career, like his presence with the Spanish national team. He admits that he has always been proud to defend Spain's shirt.

"The political issue and injustices are blowing me away, but it has nothing to do [with football ... All my life I wanted to go to the national team and I did so with a lot of honour," Xavi explained.

"I have only pronounced myself in favour of people's freedom, not against Spain.

"I think it's an injustice that people haven't been able to vote in a legal referendum."

Finally, he explained his life in Qatar.

"There are prejudices about Arab culture," Xavi concluded.

"I do not defend a dictatorship. Not at all.

"I have been criticised a lot on the subject of human rights... But they are self-critical.

"They are increasingly aware that certain things must be suppressed, but they need time.

"There are indefensible issues, such as freedom of the press or respect for homosexuality, but they have many very positive things."