Xavi: I want to retire at Barcelona

Posted Thursday, October 18, 2012 by ESPN

Barcelona midfielder Xavi has declared that he intends to play out his active career with the Catalan club.

The Barcelona-born-and-bred star's contract with the club ends in the summer of 2014 and queries are starting to be raised regarding the Xavi's future at Camp Nou given that he will turn 34 by the end of the deal.

However, Xavi has revealed that talks to extend his stay with Barcelona are ongoing and he fully expects to play out his career at the club.

"I am happy, I want to stay here for years, the club has already contacted me and there have never been problems," Xavi stated to El Mundo Deportivo.

"I'm calm because they're happy with me and I am happy here too. I'm a big Barca man, and I want to retire here at Barca."

Xavi went on to praise club team mate Lionel Messi and reiterated his opinion that the Argentine deserves to land the Ballon d'Or title for the fourth time running.

"Leo, when he doesn't score, provides two or three assists. I've said it many times, he's the best, the number one," he added.

"The Ballon d'Or? If you have to pick the best, then it's Messi, although I feel sorry for Andres [Iniesta] and Iker [Casillas]."

Xavi is currently the longest-serving player in the Barcelona squad having played for the first team since 1999.