Xavi: It was my decision not to sign for Milan - not my mum's!

Xavi Hernandez says he nearly left Barcelona for Milan when he was 19, but was persuaded to stay after a little advice from his mum. 

However, the former Barça midfielder is adamant it was he who had the final say. 

The teenager was rated as one of the best youngters in the world at the time, although he was struggling to break into a Camp Nou midfield which included Pep Guardiola. 

"Pep was 27 or 28 and in the best condition of his life," Xavi has recalled in an interview with FourFourTwo. 

"My dad said: 'It’s better you go, because here they’ve got a ready-made team.' 

"There didn’t seem to be a place in the team for me, while Milan said I’d play with Demetrio Albertini in midfield."

"My brothers said I should go, too. My mum was the only one who thought I should stay. 

"Ultimately, it didn’t feel right. The legend goes that she stopped it, but the decision was mine."