Xavi Hernandez on his Ballon d'Or votes, nearly leaving Barca and more

Xavi Hernandez thinks like a Cule 24 hours a day. Whether he's enjoying the beaches of Sardinia or is deep in the bowels of the pyramid of Cheops, his hard disk is formatted with the colours of Barcelona and he is unable to disconnect. It is clear that football is his passion and Barca his obsession. Here is the big interview. 

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On June 20 you sent me a message at 4.20 in the morning, from Brazil, saying that you were leaving Barcelona. A few days later, we knew the destination was to be New York. What happened? 

Yes, the decision was already made, I was going to New York. It was all done. Everything had been agreed with Ferran (Soriano). A call from Bartomeu was what changed everything. He called my representative and he said that he had been thinking about it and wanted me here. Before going to the World Cup I thought my era was over at Barcelona. I finished the season a little disappointed with being a substitute against Atletico Madrid and then came a new coach, a new team, and I thought I was finished here. I did not feel useful and thought that I should not be here. After the World Cup I received a call from Bartomeu and then talked to Luis Enrique. 

Had you spoken to Enrique before?

Yes. After a meeting that I had with Zubi and Bartomeu before going to the World Cup, when I informed them that I wanted to go. He told me he understood but there was always a place for me here.

And then you called him?

Yes. I told him I had received a call from the president and he told me to go to the Ciutat Esportiva on July 24 to discuss it all calmly. I had holidays, from the 29th in Sardinia and I had to re-book them all. I had also arranged to play a friendly match organised by Deco in Porto and also go to Ibiza in August with my friends.

Was that the decisive meeting?

Yes, as well as Zubizarreta. He told me that I was going to be a very useful player, that if I show it, I'll play, that I'm still competitive, that they thought well of me, that we were going to have a good year. The truth is speaking to Luis Enrique was something that I liked, from the first call that I said I was leaving in. He convinced me, it was decisive. I changed. Until then I had the bags ready to go with my wife to New York. 

What did Enrique say and how long did it take to decide?

That I should think about it calmly. About a day. One night to be more exact because the day after in training I told him I had been convinced, I accepted the challenge and I was staying. 

How are things going?

I'm happy, I'm enjoying it. I would never have imagined this, I feel useful, I feel competitive, the days that I play I feel like I've done well, I have good games and good performances, and the team is going in the right direction. All that must be recognised is that Real Madrid are strong. 

Too strong?

Very strong. They have won over 20 consecutive games. It's a record, it has never happened in history, but we are keeping pace. Four points behind, as long as they win against Sevilla, in the last 16 of the Champions League, against an opponent who won the European Cup. We are on the right path. 

You seem optimistic.

Yes. I'll stay motivated. In June when I sent that message to some of you, I was discouraged, sad and had just experienced the disappointment of not playing in the decisive World Cup match against Chile. I thought my stay in European football was over, but I left the Spain squad, I felt physically better. I am enjoying it, something that seemed impossible in June if I stayed. 

What will you do if CAS rules against Barca?

My intention is to stay another year and fulfill my contract, whatever happens with the CAS. This doesn't just depend on me, we'll see how the team finishes the season. Hopefully CAS gives us a hand because it should not be such a harsh penalty. Any player who comes in from outside knows that Barcelona is a model, a global example of how to train. It is an excessive penalty. I hope the CAS is kind to us. It's not just Barcelona who have done this, there are other clubs. 

You didn't play a lot at the start of the season? 

Well, I started with discomfort. I broke my soleus in the preseason game against Nice. I spent two weeks without training like my team-mates. When the league started I was not physically 100%. I have gone from strength to strength. 

There was gossip after the draw at La Rosaleda against Malaga saying Messi asked Luis Enrique for you to be on the pitch, because he wasn't getting the ball how he wanted it. 

Bloody hell! No way, I don't see Leo doing this. I think you have the wrong image of Messi. 

The image is that Messi makes and breaks in the dressing room. 

The image is totally false. I think it's great that people talk and say what they want, but this is a lie.

Some want to give the image of a little dictator. 

Messi always adds, he doesn't impose. In the dressing room everything is consensual. It's neither here nor there. Obviously he has an absolute importance in the team, but I've never seen Leo telling Luis Enrique "I want this" or anything beyond it. No way. Sorry, but I don't see it. It's unthinkable. 

If you were Spanish national team captain, who would you voted for in the Ballon d'Or?

First Leo, Lahm second and third Mascherano. 

Neymar voted the same but in second he voted for Cristiano Ronaldo.

What happened is that Cristiano didn't do much in the World Cup and I think in the year of the World Cup it marks a lot of the season. 

Now we're talking about Messi, this year he will be needed defensively more...

I see a happy Messi. 

Well, there are lot a rumours that say he might go, or at least there are a lot of people that want him. 

Well, he's the best player in the world and we have to live with this news. But I see him happy and content. Very different from last year, when he suffered an injury that kept him off the pitch for two months, and with the World Cup on the horizon, it was not an easy year for anyone. But this year we are enjoying being with him on the field, this is the best Messi. 

Luis Suarez was not in the 23 selected...

It is very unfair. If he is being punished [for biting], he has already been sanctioned, don't detract from his sporting merit. 

Which would you rather, being bitten or receiving a kick that could break your tibia?

What is worse? What has worse consequences? The only thing is that with a bite, you know the intention exists, while a foul with the feet could have an intention of playing the ball. 

How do you see Suarez?

He brings goals in the blood. I say he will increase now - continuing to score goals! He reminds me a little, with the assassin's instinct, like Samuel Eto'o. with the "bad milk", the personality and the persistence. 

What happened with Montoya?

This topic, where there are 23 players and only 11 can play. Alves has played a lot, but when he doesn't, it's normally Montoya. It's an issue for the coach. 

Montoya has spoken to you?

Yes.

How do you see him?

Training well.

But he asked to leave?

Yes. I understand perfectly, he does not play, he is young and he wants to play. Here he does not feel sufficiently competitive. I suggest he has a little patience, it takes that here. 

What about Douglas, have you spoken with him?

Yes. I have told him to be calm, to be the same, not to take in what people say about him from outside. 

You don't think he's bad? 

The problem with Barcelona is that if you're an 8, people judge you like you're a 6 and if you're a 6, like a 4. 

Neymar says he will be in Berlin (for the CL final). 

Hopefully. I am always optimistic but cautious with statements because then you remember them. 

First there's Man City...

You see, and I was nearly screwed because maybe I'd have faced the club. The truth is that now I realise it would have been s**t for me to go. I'd have been happy where I went, but I've done well to stay.