"Xavi Links Lionel Messi With Luis Enrique" - Abidal

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"Xavi Links Lionel Messi With Luis Enrique" - Abidal

The former Barcelona defender believes the "monumental" midfielder is the most important player in the Camp Nou dressing room


Is Barcelona's most important player because he acts as a link between Luis Enrique and Lionel Messi, according to Eric Abidal.


The midfielder is expected to announce on Thursday that he will leave Barca at the end of the season and confirm that he will join Qatari side Al Sadd.


A summer departure would see him end a 24-year spell at the club, having joined the youth system when he was just 11.


Abidal, who spent six seasons at Camp Nou from 2007 until 2013, hailed the 35-year-old as a "monumental" player for the Blaugrana, and insisted he still has a lot to offer the Spanish champions.


"Xavi is another monumental player for Barcelona, like Carles Puyol was. He's another emblematic player. He's always played there," the former Barca defender toldCadena SER.


"He has played at a level that exceeded all expectations from a young age. This season he wasn't as influential as before, because he played less, but every time that he came on Xavi stood up to be counted, whether it was for 10 minutes or five. He deserves a tribute like no other.


"He's a player with a lot of experience. I think that he's the most important player in the dressing room. I'm certain he hasn't just been the link between the coach and Messi, but between the boss and other players too.
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"He's someone that knows how the club works on a day-to-day basis, what big games are like, the sort of talks that are required."


With Luis Enrique's men in the Champions League final this season, Abidal believes winning it would be a fitting conclusion to the iconic midfielder's career with Barca.



"He deserves that kind of send-off, but to manage that, the game needs to be won first.
Barca are able to achieve a lot, even winning the treble, but that will also depend on winning the final of the Copa del Rey against Athletic Bilbao.


"I'd like to see Xavi lift the Champions League trophy."