Barcelona Transfer News: Xavi Talks Up Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley

Perhaps no player better understands what it takes to succeed at Barcelona than Xavi. The longtime Blaugrana midfielder has been with the club for more than three decades, counting his youth career. So when he provides an endorsement for two of England's most promising young talents, it's a great sign.

Sanjit Atwal of Squawka passed along comments from the 34-year-old veteran about Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley. He stated they may not be prototypical Barca players at this stage of their careers, but the raw talent is there: "Yes, why not? I think that they could. They have incredible physical capabilities and they are good technically. In Spain, we prioritize players who are technically gifted but both things are very important in football."

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Xavi was asked whether he could be the manager at Camp Nou by the time those two rising stars are potentially ready to join the club. He didn't completely rule out the possibility, simply stating he wasn't sure what would happen once his career ended.

The good news for Liverpool and Everton is that no transfer talks sound imminent. But it does show other clubs and players around Europe are watching Sterling and Barkley closely as their development continues. Their upside is being noticed.

Xavi exemplifies Barcelona's long-term success. If he believes those two England stars could hold their own with the high-profile Spanish side, many at the club probably hold the same opinion.