Xavi Hernandez has said Barcelona need a Santi Cazorla-type player if they are to build on their success of winning LaLiga this season.
The Barca boss led the club to their first league title since 2019 but said they must strengthen this summer if they want to take steps forward in Europe following back-to-back group-stage exits in the Champions League.
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After missing out on Lionel Messi, who announced his intention to join Inter Miami on Wednesday, Xaxi said he wants an attacking midfielder and a replacement for Sergio Busquets, who will leave the club when his contract expires this month.
“I would sign a Santi Cazorla for Barca,” Xavi, who coached the former Arsenal midfielder in Qatar, told Jijantes.
“He is the best player I’ve worked with as a manager. You cannot put a price on him. With the exception of Messi, Busquets and [Andres] Iniesta, he’s the player I’ve most fallen in love with. He has a talent that doesn’t exist elsewhere in the game.”
Cazorla, 38, is still playing for Al Sadd in Qatar having joined the club in 2020 when Xavi was head coach.
Xavi had expressed frequently in recent weeks his desire to bring Messi back to the club, but with the Argentina forward heading to Major League Soccer, Barca will now have to focus their search elsewhere.
ESPN previously reported the club have held talks with Ilkay Gundogan, whose Manchester City contract expires this month, and they remain keen on signing the German midfielder.
However, City boss Pep Guardiola has said ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Inter Milan that he is hopeful Gundogan will extend his stay at the Premier League side.
Barca have also shown an interest in another City midfielder, Bernardo Silva, although their financial situation makes a deal for the Portugal international difficult.
