Who's 'the new Xavi'? Eight active players who have been compared to the Barcelona legend

Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez is generally considered one of the best midfielders in the history of the game, and it’s not difficult to understand why.

The Spaniard was the unassumingly majestic, technically elite crux of Barcelona’s midfield during one of the most successful spells in the history of the club.

As a result of his reputation, a number of players have been dubbed ‘the new Xavi’ or the heir to his throne at the Nou Camp.

Below, we’ve had a look at all of the stars who have been compared to Xavi over the years, exploring the quotes from managers, players and Xavi himself.

What’s more, we’ve given each of them a rating in regards to how they compare to Xavi, taking into account their shared attributes and successes.

Harry Winks

A series of impressive displays for Tottenham and England saw Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino mention Harry Winks in the same breath as Xavi in September last year.

“When we talk about midfielders, you like to use Spanish midfielders like Xavi and Iniesta,” Pochettino said. “He’s like this type of player, this capacity, but please he needs to take in a very positive way my words. He needs a lot of work.”

Xavi comparison rating: 5/10

Winks is adept, something excellent, at receiving the ball and adding urgency to Tottenham’s play in the middle of the park. Like Xavi, he isn’t known for providing a goal threat – Winks has scored just twice in 91 appearances for his club – although the 22-year-old is beginning to get into more advanced positions.

However, it’s far too early to say just how good he is. Whether his status as a regular for Spurs is down to his own quality, Pochettino’s faith in youth or the club’s apparent inability to sign players is up for debate.

David Silva

David Silva has been one of the most consistent players in the Premier League over the last decade, and his current manager Pep Guardiola sees similarities between Silva and two of his countrymen.

“Xavi was a player with outstanding control and dynamic, he couldn’t lose the ball,” Guardiola said last May. “He could control the game rhythm, reading perfectly when to accelerate… Andres [Iniesta] is similar, but always changing the pace. And David Silva is a mixture between both of them.”

Xavi comparison rating: 7/10

As mentioned by Guardiola, Silva is more of a mix between Xavi and Iniesta than a midfielder directly comparable to Xavi. Still, the three-time Premier League champions has won plenty of honours and represented the Spanish national team 125 times, just eight games fewer than Xavi.

Positionally, Silva plays higher up the pitch and likes to make things happen in the final third. That said, he shares Xavi’s unerring composure and control of the ball.

Toni Kroos

Instrumental in Real Madrid’s Champions League dominance in recent years, Toni Kroos is one of the few players to draw Xavi comparisons from the man himself.

“Kroos is the engine of Real Madrid’s game,” Xavi noted after Madrid secured the 2016/17 La Liga title. “The way he plays reminds me a lot about myself – you could say that he is my successor in this position.”

Xavi comparison rating: 8/10

Kroos is arguably the closest player to Xavi on our list. They operate in similar areas on the pitch and much of the German’s work goes unnoticed compared to his partner, Luka Modric, who won the 2018 Ballon d’Or.

For a Real Madrid player to be recognised by a Barcelona legend shouldn’t be taken lightly. Both Xavi and Kroos are World Cup winners, too.

Arthur

Not many players have settled at Barcelona as quickly as Arthur, such is the nature of the club’s style of play, but the Brazilian has already drawn comparisons with Xavi from another club icon.

Back in September, Lionel Messi was asked about Barcelona’s new signings. According to Marca, he said: “They are very good, those that have come in, in particular Arthur has surprised me as I didn’t really know him.

“He is very similar to Xavi as he likes to have the ball, play short, not lose it and is very solid. He surprised me but I like them all. Arthur has the style we have here, he understood quickly in training.”

Xavi comparison rating: 6/10

After his stunning performance against Tottenham in the Champions League, the world’s media and a plethora of fans joined Messi in likening Arthur to Xavi.

The fact he plays for Barcelona will of course increase those comparisons, and inevitably Arthur runs the risk of falling short of matching one of the best midfielders ever to play the game. Only time will tell whether he is worthy of the hype.

Davy Klaassen

Two years before his passing in 2016, Netherlands legend and football innovator Johan Cruyff heaped praise on a young player coming through at Ajax, Davy Klaassen.

“You must have strong positioning, ability to control the ball at speed and also have the technique to deal with the speed of it [in midfield],” Cruyff said, via the Liverpool Echo. “Xavi, Toni Kroos and Davy Klaassen can do it. All three have perfect anticipation and they can play it both left and right excellently.

“You watch, when Klaassen plays from that position for Ajax, the tempo increases immediately. Moreover, he rarely loses possession.”

Xavi comparison rating: 2/10

Klaasen eventually left Ajax for Everton but unfortunately turned out to be a Premier League flop, completely unsuited to English football.

He moved on to Werder Bremen in Germany last summer and is currently languishing in mid-table in the Bundesliga, a far cry from the heights of Xavi’s career. It’s a shame Klaassen’s clear talent from his Ajax days hasn’t been seen elsewhere.

Frenkie de Jong

Earlier this week, Barcelona announced a €75m deal for Ajax starlet Frenkie De Jong. In November last year, former Ajax manager and Barcelona coach Henk ten Cate used the Xavi line.

“It cannot be compared, De Jong can be a mixture of Deco and Xavi, but he is De Jong,” Ten Cate said, according to Goal. “It is always difficult to compare players. Both Xavi and Deco were from another planet, De Jong has the talent, but he must still prove it and that his injuries are respected.”

Xavi comparison rating: 5/10

Barcelona have clearly identified De Jong as a long-term solution in their midfield, suggesting they see the Dutchman as their new Xavi. However, as noted by Ten Cate, comparisons aren’t always helpful.

De Jong has certainly shown Xavi-like attributes for Ajax over the last couple of years, but adapting those traits to La Liga football while dealing with the pressure of a huge transfer fee will be a real test for the 21-year-old.

Marco Verratti

Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in the past but the recent arrivals of De Jong and Arthur has lessened the need for him.

Just over three years ago when those rumours were doing the rounds, ex-Barcelona midfielder Demetrio Albertini told ESPN: “Verratti reminds me of Xavi, and I’ve told him that more than once. He plays like a Barcelona player would by making short passes. He is different from Pirlo but he is still great.”

Xavi comparison rating: 7/10

Verratti has become part of the furniture at PSG, making over 250 appearances for the club and winning five Ligue 1 titles. The Italian’s influence on his team is similar to that of Xavi’s on Barcelona, and the players take up analogous positions on the pitch.

That said, Verratti hasn’t massively stood out on the international stage, perhaps because of Italy’s lack of emerging talent over the last few years. The 26-year-old still has time, though; Xavi didn’t win the World Cup until he was 30.

Jean Michael Seri

Jean Michael Seri came very close to joining Barcelona in the summer of 2017 after receiving praise from Xavi, who had left the club just two years earlier.

Xavi said: “When I was told that a player from Nice was called the ‘African Xavi’, I followed him very closely, inevitably.

“I did not know him and I was stunned: I haven’t seen such midfield talent for a while. [His] short game, long game, tactical intelligence, distance shooting, personality, game organisation…wow! He would go so well at Barça … He can play anywhere in the middle. Seri is fantastic. He has what is called Barcelona’s Barça DNA. Without any hesitation.”

Xavi comparison rating: 4/10

Fulham pulled off a big shock by luring Seri to Craven Cottage last summer. The Londoners are struggling towards the bottom of the Premier League, and Seri hasn’t exactly stood out.

It’s worth remembering the Ivory Coast international was excellent before joining Fulham and could yet prove to be an established Premier League player. But at 27 years of age, he will never achieve anything close to Xavi’s list of honours and is unlikely to ever play for Barcelona.

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