(foto: Getty Images)
Barcelona legend Xavi reveals he came close to joining AC Milan, Inter, and Bayern Munich during his playing career, before Pep Guardiola’s arrival changed everything.
Xavi Hernández is a Barcelona icon, having spent almost his entire playing career at the Catalan club. But in a rare admission, the legendary midfielder revealed that he came close to leaving the Camp Nou for Serie A — not once, but twice.
Xavi is currently in the spotlight as he looks for a new coaching job after his spell in charge of Barcelona, with clubs from Germany and England reportedly interested. But his career could have taken a very different turn years ago.
Speaking to the media, Xavi admitted that he was close to signing for both AC Milan and Inter at crucial stages of his career. He also confirmed that Bayern Munich had expressed interest.
“After the U20 World Cup, Adriano Galliani really wanted me at AC Milan, but in the end I decided to stay at Barcelona,” Xavi said. “In 2008, I was very close to signing with Inter. We weren’t doing well and the critics often singled me out. Bayern also wanted me.”
Asked why he ultimately stayed in Catalonia, Xavi pointed to the arrival of Pep Guardiola as the decisive moment that changed everything.
“Then Pep Guardiola became Barcelona’s coach and everything changed quickly,” the former midfielder recalled.
Xavi went on to become one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, winning eight La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, and playing over 750 matches for Barcelona. His decision to stay became one of the defining choices in modern football history.