Last week it was Cristiano Ronaldo, this week it’s Xavi. Who’s next… Lionel Messi?
It seems ever since David Beckham ponied up the cash earlier this month, along with his band of wealthy investors, to set up Major League Soccer’s 22nd franchise in Miami, there’s been rumors galore of world class players arriving with a pair of boots under one arm and a sun hat on.
Plenty of unrealistic targets have been mentioned, but when you start to think about Miami joining the league in 2017, and the age of those targets in three years time, a few of these rumors turn into ‘well… maybe that could happen?”
In the case of Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona’s heartbeat in midfield for over a decade, you could argue that when you start to connect the dots, things start to make sense. Reports suggest the 34-year-old Spanish international has been sounded out by Miami and is receptive to a move to Florida, if his legs still allow him to get around the pitch.
Of course this isn’t the first time Xavi has been linked with MLS, oh no. Remember a few months ago when he was linked with New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls? Yeah, Xavi brushed those rumors aside and stated he’d never spoken to anybody about the move and was happy to see out his playing days at the Nou Camp with Barcelona. Can you blame him?
But if ‘Big bucks Beckham’ came calling and the likes of Ronaldo were also on board, it wouldn’t be a bad place to play out the final few years of your career. Plus, Xavi’s contract with Barcelona runs out in 2016, so that would slot in quite perfectly with a move to MLS for the start of the 2017 season when Miami are expected to join.
(MORE: So much for those Xavi-MLS-New York City FC murmurs)
Xavi is one of those players, despite all the rumors, who could play until he is 40. Like Paul Scholes, Andrea Pirlo and countless other midfield maestros, the pace of the game never seems to catch up with Xavi. A general of the tiki-taka approach, Xavi has inspired a generation of midfield players and if Miami has the chance to get him on board, whatever the cost, I think they should do it for at least two seasons.
Some MLS fans would scoff at yet another foreign import joining the league in their twilight. I agree, some of the decent European players who have come to MLS to see out their careers just haven’t been good enough. But when it comes to players of Xavi’s caliber, I’m talking David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane, then they will always improve the standard of play in the league.
Not to mention the commercial benefits they bring, along with increased exposure for the franchise. So if Becks does land Xavi, it’s a win, win for everyone concerned. I’d be surprised if it happens. But with Beckham pulling the strings, you just never know.
