Why the Time Has Come for Barcelona to Look Beyond Xavi

Xavi is a living, breathing Barcelona legend. The La Masia graduate has done it all for La Blaugrana and will always be remembered as one of the greatest to ever put on the shirt. But all good things must one day, sadly, come to an end.

At 34 years old, Xavi’s role with the Catalan giants is changing. He is not seeing the pitch nearly as much as in previous years, and it could be nearing the day that he finally hangs up his boots.

Despite his age, Xavi is still one of the best midfielders around. His vision is second to none in football and his ability to influence matches is a dangerous weapon to have.

That being said, the time has come for Barcelona to start to look beyond Xavi. Here is why.

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To begin with, age is rarely a good thing in football. Some players do get better as they grow older, but for the most part the opposite is true. This is likely the case with Xavi as well.

The 34-year-old is nowhere near as mobile as he once was. His pace is severely lacking and even casual viewers can see that it has affected his ability to contribute defensively while on the pitch.

Xavi could still alter his game to fit his age, but with the grueling demands at Barcelona that seems rather unlikely.

Yes, age is the crutch that eventually hits every athlete and Xavi is no different. He can certainly have a big match when things go right, but his ability to play consistent minutes is just gone. Over the last few years it has become even more evident as Xavi has been a liability against stronger sides, which is something fans never thought they would see.

While age is the biggest reason why Barcelona should begin to look down the road at what they must do without Xavi, there are a few other factors as well.

Luis Enrique’s era at the Camp Nou has begun, and with it a change in style. There hasn’t been a major change in how the Catalans play mind you, but the subtle differences are there.

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For instance, Barcelona’s midfield has changed with the likes of Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta running the show. Both players are able to drop deep to get the ball and are more than capable of playing out wide to create space while Sergio Busquets protects the middle of the pitch.

That luxury does not exist with Xavi, who is solely focused on staying in the middle of the field orchestrating play. Granted, the style can always change to accommodate Xavi as he has earned the right to play, but changing systems often can lead to other problems.

Additionally, it can finally be said that Barcelona has the players needed to take the reigns from Xavi.

Ivan Rakitic was one of the best midfielders in Europe last season and it surprised no one when the Catalans purchased him last summer. Able to do it all behind the forwards, Rakitic is the present and future of the Barcelona midfield.

The Croatian has already formed a marvelous familiarity with Busquets and Iniesta and the trio are quite settled by this point. Again, Xavi certainly has more familiarity with his teammates, but his age and lack of pace can do more major harm to the lineup.

What this really comes down is the simple fact that change is a constant part of football. Players can’t stay young and in their prime forever. Eventually the day comes when they can’t perform the way they used to and clubs have to adjust.

Luckily for Barcelona, Xavi can still make a major impact in the squad and can have a big night when he is on his game. However, a world-class performance can’t be expected out of the 34-year-old every day, and that is why the club must start looking ahead to when Xavi is no longer in the squad.

When will Xavi's time at Barcelona come to an end? Is Rakitic enough to replace the legend? Leave your thoughts and comments below!