‘I Hope Xavi Makes History At FC Barcelona’, ‘Very Happy’ With Messi World Cup Win

Club legend Ronaldinho has said he hopes Xavi Hernandez makes history with FC Barcelona as their head coach and that he is “very happy” with Lionel Messi’s World Cup win.

The Brazilian and the Catalan did this as teammates in the mid-2000s, winning La Liga twice and the Blaugrana’s second Champions League title in Paris against Arsenal in 2006.

Speaking from the Mundo Deportivo gala in Barcelona to RAC1, Ronaldinho said: “It is not easy to win titles, but he’s doing very well and I hope that soon he will make history at the club,” in reference to Xavi’s work in the dugout since taking over from Ronald Koeman in November 2021.

“Xavi is my friend. Let’s hope things continue to go well and he can win the title,” he added.

A close friend of the €60mn ($64.5mn) signing from Leeds United’s family back home in Porto Alegre, Ronaldinho highlighted Raphinha’s performances in recent games which have seen him take a huge leap forward in Ousmane Dembele’s absence with two important goals and an assist.

“He is a great player. I know him well, since he was little. I am sure that things will turn out well for him at Barca from now on,” Ronaldinho predicted.

Ronaldinho also revealed he is “very happy” for another former colleague Lionel Messi, and for his victory with Argentina at the recent Qatar 2022 World Cup.

“He was missing it. The truth is that nobody imagined him outside of Barca, but things happen in football. Now he must continue,” Ronaldinho said.

With the arrival of his son at the club after he successfully completed trials, Ronaldinho vowed to be “more present” at Camp Nou. “Barca is part of my life, my connection with the club is very strong.” he claimed, and was supported in this statement by president Joan Laporta.

“You will always be Barca’s smile. You were the resurrection of the club,” said Laporta, who signed him from Paris Saint Germain in a 2003 masterstroke that pulled the club out of one of its darkest eras.

“I dream of winning La Liga this year, it is the priority objective and we are on the right track. We must continue working well,” Laporta added himself.

Now that Ronaldinho is a free man again following his illegal passport troubles in Paraguay that saw him imprisoned during the pandemic, Laporta could perhaps reward him with the type of ambassador role he was allegedly promised by Laporta’s predecessor Josep Bartomeu in late 2019.