Xavi is one of the best players Barcelona have ever produced.The legendary midfielder joined the club as a 11-year-old in 1991.He would go on to graduate from La Masia in 1997, before making his Barca debut in 1998.Across the next 17 seasons, Xavi would make 767 appearances for the club and establish himself as one of the best midfielders of all-time.When he left for Al-Sadd in 2015, he left a Barcelona legend.
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But did his coaches at La Masia realise he was going to have that degree or success?
Barcelona coaches made a report card about Xavi when he was a 14-year-old and that has just come to light in a new book by Cristian Martin titled: La Masia.
Per Marca, you can read what was written about Xavi below...
"Running: He runs on his heels, his movements are slow and he has trouble picking up speed.
"Balance: Average
"Coordination: Good. His movements are correct, but lack speed.
"Flexibility: Average. He needs a lot of work in this regard.
"Skill: Good, without it being his forte. He has the resources in his game to take advantage of any situation.
"Fitness: Good. He has everything a good midfielder should.
"Muscle endurance: Good.
"Speed: Average. He has to improve his agility and speed of movement.
"Starting Speed: Average
"Rapid strength: Average
"Control: Excellent. He offsets his lack of speed in movement with exceptional ball control.
"Passing: Very good. He should improve with his left foot, but this is his great strength on the pitch.
"Crossing: Good. He is almost never forced into this action.
"Shooting: Acceptable. He should improve this for when he gets forward in attack, like Guardiola.
"Running: Very good. He has a good sense of protecting the ball, he almost never loses it.
"Dribbling: Good. Without being his best asset, his technical level is impressive.
"Positioning: Excellent. It is undoubtedly his best quality. He is always where he should be and always offers support and an option for teammates.
"Aggression: Average. His eminently technical style sometimes makes this aspect difficult to judge."
Fascinating. So Barcelona coaches thought that his speed, shooting and aggression were his weaknesses.
If you had to pick apart Xavi's game, those areas were probably his main weaknesses when he became a professional too.
His main three strengths were passing, running with the ball and positions. Again, that seems very accurate.
Xavi's coaches at La Masia clearly had high hopes for him and he would go on to repay their faith, and more.