After years of pain… Xavi Simmons reveals the secret of leaving Barcelona

Tottenham Hotspur star Xavi Simmons has broken his silence on leaving Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.

Simmons grew up in La Masia’s academy and was one of the most outstanding talents in the Catalan club’s youth section, but after a full decade in a Barcelona shirt, he opted for a move to Paris.

Seven years later, before the start of his second season with “Tottenham”, Xavi Simmons decided to tell his version of what happened, emphasizing that his departure happened because “Barcelona” preferred to give their trust to other players.

The newspaper publishedSports“It was clear from the beginning that they didn’t believe me,” Simmons told The Sports Agents podcast. At that time, I decided not to speak because I was only focused on what I was doing on the field.”

He continued. “I was told that they have another group of players that they trust and we want to offer you a contract, but you are not one of the players that is a real part of the project.”

“For me, the decision was clear, at that time people did not know what really happened behind the scenes, they had opinions only based on what they heard, because there were rumors that I went for money,” he added.

He continued. “Did it hurt me?” Of course. I spent my whole life there, I went through different situations and experienced everything inside this club. My whole childhood was there.”

He noted: “I love Barcelona, ​​so the spread of that story hurt me and it hurt my family because it wasn’t true.”

Simons explained that the truth is simpler than many people realize, saying: “The truth was, they preferred other players at the time. And for me it was a good thing because Paris had a really huge project.”

“I was training in Paris, at the age of 16, next to the best players in the world. The question didn’t require much thought as the decision was easy. “Barcelona” did not trust me, so my choice was clear.”

He commented on his experience with Paris. “Neymar was the closest to me and he told me: If you need anything, call me, text me, or come over to my house and we’ll take care of it. I will be forever grateful to him. Apart from being my role model, today I can consider him a friend.”

In the same lengthy interview, Xavi Simmons also talked about the early months of his recovery from the serious cruciate ligament tear he suffered in late April that will keep him out of the 2026 World Cup.

“The first two days were very difficult,” he said. “The first thing I thought about was the World Cup and I asked the referees to let me stand up one last time. “I felt my knee pop out of place and then pop back in, and then I knew something serious had happened.”

He added: “And when I was assured that it was the worst possible scenario, I felt like the whole world had collapsed on me.

He concluded, “I told myself I shouldn’t put too much pressure on myself, I’m improving day by day and that makes me very happy.”