Football
9y

Xavi Hernandez tells Barcelona supporters: I'll return with Treble

Xavi Hernandez said he hoped to return to the Camp Nou in a fortnight's time to celebrate the Treble -- in an emotional address to Barcelona fans after his final La Liga appearance in Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Deportivo La Coruna.

A much-changed Barca XI went 2-0 up through two Lionel Messi goals, but the visitors came back to equalise with strikes from Lucas Vazquez and Diogo Salomao to get a point which secured their safety and sent Eibar down to the Segunda Division in dramatic circumstances.

The vast majority of the 93,743 crowd were not too bothered by the result however, as they had come to pay homage to veteran midfielder Xavi as he made his 505th and last La Liga appearance for the club ahead of his summer move to Qatari side Al-Sadd.

The 35-year-old started the game and was replaced late on to a huge ovation from the stadium, before then returning to the pitch to lift the La Liga trophy for the first time as the club's first captain, and pick up his 23rd medal in all during 17 success-filled seasons at the Catalan club.

"Thanks so much for everything," Xavi said, before taking another moment to compose himself. "You have made me the happiest person in the world. Today and these 17 seasons. I am the happiest man in the world. We are the best club whatever anyone says."

Directing himself to where his family were watching in the stands, Xavi continued.

"I would like to thank my wife, my parents, my two brothers, my sister, my parents in law, my friends," he said. "You have supported me unconditionally."

The Terrassa-born playmaker then finished his address by reminding everyone that he had two more games yet as a Barca player -- next Saturday's Copa del Rey final at the Camp Nou against Athletic Bilbao, and the Champions League decider against Juventus in Berlin a week later.

"I call you back here in a fortnight's time," he said. "This is not over yet. We want the Copa, we want the Champions League, and in a fortnight I will say goodbye to everyone. Visca el Barça and Visca Catalunya!"

Xavi had been introduced by his long-term teammate with both club and country Andres Iniesta, speaking Catalan.

"Today is a very special day for everyone, we want to celebrate the trophies with you," Iniesta said from the Camp Nou pitch. "We have the privilege to say goodbye to a unique player, a legend, and we want to thank him for so many years of lessons. Visca el Barça and Visca Catalunya!"

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