GOAL

Xavi has admitted that it was clear to him that he had to leave Barcelona, but is happy that he stayed on for an extra year at the club.

The midfielder says he was expected to leave the Catalan club last summer but was convinced to stay on for another year and is happy he did so

Xavi was linked with a move away from the Catalan side ahead of the 2014-15 campaign, but opted to remain at Camp Nou.

This summer, he brought an end to a 24 year spell at the club which started in the famous youth academy when he was just 11, signing for Al Sadd in Qatar.

The 35-year-old says he is happy he waited another year to win a domestic and European treble with Luis Enrique's side before leaving, but maintains the time was right to wave goodbye to the Blaugrana.

"Imagine leaving Barcelona last year, without this euphoria and without titles," he told the club's official website. "Here, when they don't win anything, they think that about 10 players should be sold, everyone is angry. Imagine making a farewell with angry people. 

"Now people are euphoric. I'm happy I had stayed on for another year, that former sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, Luis Enrique and president Josep Maria Bartomeu convinced me to stay. 

"It was clear that I had to leave and I am very fit, but in two or three meetings, they convinced me to stay. I'm happy."

Xavi is the club record holder in terms of appearances and trophies won, but he feels Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi will end up taking that title from him soon.

"I know that eventually someone will surpass me, maybe Andres and Leo. I'll be surpassed next year."