Xavi Hernandez Thinks FC Barcelona Is Not Appreciated in Spain

Xavi Hernandez declared that FC Barcelona is not appreciated in Spain. The reason (according to Xavi) is that many of the football supporters in Spain are loyal to Real Madrid.

Xavi made these declarations in a press conference which was published in Goal. He went as far as to say that FC Barcelona is appreciated more outside of Spain than inside the country.

It appears that Xavi has not looked at the statistics of FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. Ikerfel (a research company based in Spain) conducted an investigation for Mundo Deportivo.

According to the investigation, Barca received 44 percent in the popularity screen for Spain compared to Real Madrid which was 37 percent. Ikerfel inverted the investigation question by asking participants what was the most unpopular club in Spain. 

In the inverted study, Real Madrid received 51 percent compared to 40 percent for Barca. The conclusion of the Ikerfel investigation conducted in 2011 favored FC Barcelona.

The studies done by Ikerfel were compared to those of Line Staff (commissioned by the Catalonian government) and the Center for Sociological Investigation (CIS-initials in Spanish) in the year 2002. The results in 2002 were in favor of Real Madrid.

Xavi should not worry since FC Barcelona is popular in Spain and the world. The reasons are the professional demeanor of the club, the recent triumphs in the UEFA Champions League and being the ambassadors of the world for Spain.

The supporters of Barca should not worry about not being appreciated since La Blaugrana is an institution in Spain and the world.