Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling has what it takes to play for Barcelona in the future, according to the midfielder Xavi, who has won three Champions Leagues and seven La Liga titles with the Catalan giants.

The 19-year-old Sterling, who was linked with Real Madrid earlier this year, although Carlo Ancelotti was quick to deny his interest, has struggled to reproduce last season’s eye-catching form for Liverpool and England this term but Xavi believes the teenager could thrive at the Camp Nou.

Asked if Sterling or Everton’s Ross Barkley could one day play for Barcelona, the World Cup winner told Squawka.com in Barcelona: “Yes, why not? I think that they could. They have incredible physical capabilities and they are good technically. In Spain, we prioritise players who are technically gifted but both things are very important in football.”

The 34-year-old midfielder also expects the former Barcelona manager Louis van Gaal to be a success at Manchester United despite the 20-times Premier League champions’ difficult start to the season, praising the impact the Dutchman had on him when he was coming through the ranks at the Catalan club.

“He had great impact on me. I really enjoyed having him as a coach at such young age,” added Xavi. “He would expect a lot from a player in training but at the same time he was very human. He had a lot of confidence in me and I owe him for that. Sometimes I would even ask myself why. He trusted immensely in me and maybe that is why I always wanted to show him how good I was on the pitch. I believe that he is a great coach for any team.