Xavi refutes Real reports

Midfielder insists he is staying at Barca

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 10th May 2009  

Xavi refutes Real reports

Xavi: Barca at heart

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Barcelona midfielder Xavi has laughed off reports that he could move to Real Madrid as part of one of the presidential candidates' deals.

The Catalan playmaker was amused at the rumours linking him with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Xavi has been in the senior side at Camp Nou since 1998 and has stressed he is fully committed to the Primera Division leaders.

"Are you sure? Well I feel for them, but that is impossible. I could not be happy playing for Real Madrid, although I appreciate the compliments, especially from a rival team," he told Sport.

Chelsea

Barca are currently closing in on the Primera Division title and they defeated Chelsea during midweek to set up a UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United.

Xavi felt that Barca's performance over both legs versus the Blues merited a place in the final and also that they deserved some luck after being beaten in the last four in 2008.

He said: "The team that played the better football won the tie as we were the only team that went out to play.

Penalties

"The only penalty call that I thought could be one was the handball by Pique. But in Camp Nou we could have had one for a foul on (Thierry) Henry and (Michael) Ballack could have been sent off, but they did not say anything then."

"Football owed us something. Last season we lost to Manchester United in the semi-final and we were a lot better than them, but they beat us.

"I will always remember John Terry coming into our changing room and congratulating us all one-by one. It was great to see that professionals like this are about."