LaLiga: ‘They never believed in me’ – Xavi opens up on why he left Barcelona

Former Barcelona player, Xavi Simons has opened up on why he left the club, asserting that the Catalan team never had faith in him, and he opted to remain silent about it.

In an interview on The Sports Agents podcast, Simons mentioned that he was focused on improving his performance on the field, despite being informed that he was unlikely to succeed at Barcelona.

He revealed that club officials indicated they were merely extending an offer out of obligation, while they were more interested in supporting other players’ development.

He said, “It was evident from their perspective that they did not have confidence in me.

“At that moment, I decided not to voice my concerns because my focus was solely on the game, but they communicated to me, ‘We have other players we believe in and want to offer you a contract, but you’re not one of the individuals who are genuinely part of the project.’”

Reflecting on his decision to leave Barcelona for PSG in 2019, Simons expressed that he was attracted to the Ligue 1 club’s vision, which simplified his decision. He stated:

“I spent my entire life there. I encountered various situations, experienced everything there, and my whole childhood was spent at that club, so I have a deep affection for it.

“Everything that transpired was painful for me and my family as well. They simply favored other players at that time. And that is acceptable. I had PSG presenting a significant project at 16 years old, training alongside the best players in the world, so the choice was straightforward,” he stated.

Xavi Simons has been rumored to be considering a return to Barcelona in recent years, but he has chosen to remain distant. He signed with Tottenham last summer after a prolonged wait for Chelsea to express interest in him.