Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Last June, when Pep Guardiola was installed as Barcelona’s head coach, one of the first things he did was proclaim Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto’o as surplus to requirements. While Eto’o would end up staying (for one season), the others were moved, Guardiola had made his intentions clear. The former captain and Catalan icon was going back to Barça’s roots. With the icons of the last great Barcelona side asked to leave, Guardiola was going to hand over the club to one its own, and it was another Catalan born, raised, and trained midfielder that would deliver the club from the end of their uncertain era.
This new era will be seen by history as the time of Lionel Messi’s ascendancy, but Xavi Hernández is that reason why Barcelona (and the Spanish national team) have become historic.
The future may be Messi. Actually, the future may be Iniesta. But the present is Hernández.
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My pick is Ineista!