Xavi Points Out Key Factor Preventing Nico from Replacing Busquets, Reveals Alternative Options

In a recent interview with Mundo Deportivo, Xavi shared his thoughts on the possibility of Nico Gonzalez replacing Sergio Busquets in the Barcelona squad. Xavi expressed his belief that Nico possesses a more offensive playing style, describing him as a player with an attacking mentality, showcasing skills such as dribbling and dividing the opposition. Xavi compared Nico’s profile to that of Frenkie de Jong, who has played a similar role with a focus on attacking contributions during the previous season.

However, Xavi ultimately does not see Nico Gonzalez as a direct replacement for Sergio Busquets. He believes that Barcelona already has an attacking midfielder of that profile in Frenkie de Jong, suggesting that the team requires a different type of player to fill the void left by Busquets’ departure.

To address this gap, Xavi mentioned three potential players who could potentially fill the role. He highlighted Martin Zubimendi, Ruben Neves, and Joshua Kimmich as potential options. Xavi praised Kimmich as a super talent who understands the game exceptionally well, but he also acknowledged that negotiations would be necessary if there were any possibility of signing him from Bayern Munich. Xavi emphasized that both Zubimendi and Kimmich are top players in their respective positions, making them desirable choices for the role. However, Xavi acknowledged that acquiring Kimmich would depend on negotiations with Bayern, as he has a long-term contract with the German club.

As for Ruben Neves, Xavi mentioned him as a good player but expressed uncertainty about how well he would adapt to Barcelona’s style of play. Xavi emphasized that the club has different alternatives and contingency plans, referred to as plan A, plan B, and plan C, suggesting that they are exploring various options to address the vacancy left by Busquets.

Reports indicate that Xavi prefers to sign a Spanish midfielder like Zubimendi or a player with experience like Kimmich, suggesting that Ruben Neves may be viewed as a secondary alternative by the Barcelona manager. The final decision on Busquets’ replacement will likely depend on factors such as negotiations, player suitability to the team’s style, and the overall strategic plan devised by Xavi and the Barcelona management.