📣 Xavi talks Messi return plans, future Barça captains and Vinícius abuse | OneFootball

Xavi Hernández spoke to reporters on Monday ahead of Barcelona’s LaLiga trip to Real Valladolid.

Here is what he had to say.

On Lionel Messi’s possible return

“It’s up in the air. It depends on many things.

“There’s not much more I can say. He’s a spectacular footballer, he’s a friend, and we’ll see if it can happen or not.

“It really depends on the intention and desire Leo has.”

On Vinícius Jr abuse

“Any act of racism, like the one we saw towards Vinícius, must be condemned.

“Football is the only sport in which insults seem to have been normalised. This doesn’t happen in other professions.

“Why do we footballers or coaches have to deal with it? It has to stop. It’s time to say ‘enough’.

“When this happens, the issue that happened with Vinícius, you have to stop the game and go home.”

On Barça’s financial fair play situation

“The economic and fair play situation weighs on us.

“But we want to strengthen the squad as much as possible to be more competitive and aspire to all the titles, encouraging people to go up Montjuïc.”

On potential future club captains

“In the team there are many players who have leadership qualities.

“Marc-André ter Stegen is a great leader, like Ronald Araújo and Jules Koundé.

“Gavi and Pedri can also be captains of Barcelona. Robert Lewandowski is a captain without an armband.”

On plans for Valladolid

“Pablo Torre will have minutes tomorrow, for sure, like other players who have played less.

“It’s time to rest players and give minutes to those who have played less.”

On Deco as Barça’s new sporting director

“I have a friendly relationship with Deco.

“At the moment there is nothing official [but] to me, he’s a formidable person.”