5 Potential Heirs to Xavi's Barcelona Throne
Xavi Hernandez has left a legacy at Barcelona that will last for generations.
The most decorated Barca player ever in terms of trophies won signed off in the best possible way, lifting the Champions League in Berlin.
How do you follow that?
The answer is simple: you don't.
Barca need to look for a player to fill the void, but to suggest that person would be a direct replacement for Xavi is pushing it somewhat.
Let's take a look at five players who might step into Xavi's shoes.
Denis Suarez
1 of 5
One player who has really found his feet in La Liga over the past 12 months is Denis Suarez.
Sent on loan to Sevilla as part of the deal that brought Ivan Rakitic to Camp Nou, Suarez has flourished in Andalusia.
With a year still to go on his loan, it would be difficult for Barca to bring him home early—but not impossible.
The Catalans enjoy a healthy relationship with Sevilla, as has been seen again recently with the Aleix Vidal deal.
Although far from the finished article, Suarez has the right mentality to become successful, which is more than can be said for Gerard Deulofeu, who was given much the same opportunities.
During his time at Barca B, Suarez was used to taking the midfield responsibility, and you might expect he would relish the opportunity to provide the same at senior level.
Paul Pogba
2 of 5
Juventus' Paul Pogba is the player who, at this stage, appears the most likely to be signed by Barca.
Approaches have been made to the player and his club already, and Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu told Telefoot (h/t ESPN): "It is true that Pogba is a leading target of ours and obviously we are interested, but I can't say anything more. We are forbidden to recruit players until January, so I can't talk about it."
His capture would present a real change of direction in the midfield, given that Pogba is more of a marauding, powerful player than the "conductor" Xavi has been.
Landing the ex-Manchester United man would certainly signal Barca's intent, as would the estimated €80 million purchase price.
Isco
3 of 5
The only way a deal for Isco gets done is if Barcelona arrange for a third party to have Isco sign for them first before he moves onto Barca a few months later.
There is no chance Florentino Perez would sanction a move to Real Madrid's greatest rivals.
Machiavellian? Absolutely. But no more underhand that many of the deals that are struck within football these days.
Isco would be significantly cheaper than Pogba, and there are unlikely to be too many supporters who would be that fussed about Isco previously having plied his trade at the Santiago Bernabeu if there was a chance of Barca being able to sign him.
Common sense dictates that this is the right player, at the right age and at the right price.
How can you not be happy with that?
Marco Reus
4 of 5
Barca have been considered a potential destination for Marco Reus for some while now, but he resolutely remains a Borussia Dortmund player.
Having signed a new deal for the German club as recently as February, any proposed deal would be difficult, but given Reus' adaptability, Barca may feel that he is a player worth pursuing.
Reus is comfortable in possession, and he will take on players with a direct route to goal when required.
Equally, he has the sense to sit and hold as well as pop off inch-perfect passes for his team-mates.
He's a high-class team player. Perhaps it's time for Barca to dig deep.
Santi Cazorla
5 of 5
The outsider of the bunch, but a player who would nevertheless slot straight into the Barca style of play.
Arsenal's Santi Cazorla is ready-made for the Catalans and knows many of the team well through his time with the Spain national team.
Quite what Arsene Wenger would make of an approach from Barca is unclear, and at 30 years of age, he isn't exactly one for the future—but that shouldn't stop Barca from testing the waters.
Class is permanent remember, and Cazorla oozes it from every pore.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
