Barcelona Transfer News: Xavi's Manchester United Pass Shows Faith in New Regime

It wasn't so long ago that it seemed as though Xavi's career as a Barcelona player could come to an end, and it recently came to light that Manchester United were among those chasing his services this summer.

Prior to the Red Devils' signing of Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao, Xavi is reported by Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo (h/t Daily Star's Chisanga Malata) as having rejected the English giants.

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It's an endearing statement for the midfielder to make just as Luis Enrique begins his tenure at Camp Nou, a reign that's so far going as smoothly as could have been hoped for.

Thus far, the new helmsman has steered Barca to the summit of La Liga with two wins from their first two outings, although Xavi has only played 16 minutes of the league campaign.

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After the small but decisive disappointments that came under Gerardo Martino last season, the opening looked as inviting as it's ever likely to for Xavi to bow out. After 23 years with the club, it was a drop in standards he won't have grown used to, after all.

Instead, he'll now look to play his part as Enrique hopes to engineer a revival of glory, with Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC quoting the tactician on his assessment of the role Xavi has to play:

A significant part of the veteran's role will also come in mentoring those aspiring youngsters hoping to follow in the footsteps of their role model.

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Early signs this season suggest Enrique will look to promote youth heavily, the likes of Munir El Haddadi, Rafinha and Sandro having already been afforded good chances in the senior ranks.

It's clear the midfielder's love for the Catalan club runs as strong as ever, too, the club for whom he's played since the age of 11. 

As the Daily Mail revealed earlier this week, United weren't the only club offering pastures new and the promise of a lucrative pay packet:

Now 34, it's understandable that Xavi's gradual decline should lead to talk of an exit, but the truth is his influence on the pitch remains a substantial one, more than simply a wise dressing room voice.

In 30 league appearances last season, Xavi created 47 scoring chances for his side, per Squawka, and maintained a passing accuracy of 93 percent. A classic indication of what he adds to the side.

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And Enrique is understandably pleased to see that figure remain and help ease his transition as manager. It was United manager Louis van Gaal who gave Xavi his 1998 debut, and to turn that offer down now shows a belief in the new Barca boss.

Enrique will be the 10th boss Xavi has worked under during his 16 years as a senior Barca figure, and the former team-mates will be equally important to one another's success, a promising partnership running deeper than your average player-manager agreement.