Damia Abella: Xavi told me to pass to him as he was more secure than a bank Barcelona The former teammate had a great story

Tributes have been flooding in for Xavi Hernandez after the former Barcelona captain announced that this season will be his last as a player and Damia Abella had a wonderful memory of the midfielder.

Abella came through the La Masia academy and made his league debut alongside Xavi in 2004 in a match against Athletic Club.

He recalled that Xavi went over to him before the game to encourage the youngster to pass his way whenever the going got tough.

"He told me 'if you're under pressure then give it to me, as I'm more secure than a bank'," Abella wrote on Twitter.

That advice was completely different from what Deco had told him five minutes earlier, with the Portuguese telling the youngster to kick the ball long if he was pressured.