Xavi Discusses Lionel Messi, Arda Turan, Aleix Vidal, Barcelona and More

Longtime Barcelona pass-master Xavi believes his old club can continue their normal dominance of La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, even without injured talisman Lionel Messi. He also believes new arrivals Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal will make a huge difference once they are eligible to play from January.

In an interview with Eurosport.co.uk's Pete Burton, 35-year-old Xavi called Messi's absence the "biggest injury that could have happened to the team right now." Yet Xavi was firm in his belief Barca are a "good enough team not to notice his absence."

Xavi dubbed his former team "very unlucky injury-wise" following Barcelona's recent 2-1 La Liga defeat away to Sevilla. Yet despite the dip in form, sans Messi, Xavi thinks the impending arrivals of playmaker Turan and utility midfield man Vidal will offer a timely boost.

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Speaking about £24 million former Atletico Madrid schemer Turan, Xavi lauded the Turkey international's technical guile. But he also noted how ex-Sevilla star Vidal's versatility will add fresh options to the squad:

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[Turan's] going to be very important. Both Arda and Aleix, who is hardly spoken about, will be very important. Because if you think about it, they are both versatile and they can play in any position, midfield for example.

Aleix can play in defence too, Arda can be midfielder and forward. He can adapt to any position. I think he has spectacular talent, and he’s going to bring a lot to Barca, but of course, we have to wait until January.

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Turan's "spectacular talent" is most often revealed by his creative tendencies in the final third. Able to play on the wing or in central areas behind a striker, Turan can unlock defences with quick and clever through passes.

In that sense, the 28-year-old will seamlessly fit into Barca's brand of intricate, possession-based football. His supply will further increase the potency of the most star-studded forward line in European football: Luis Suarez, Neymar Jr and an eventually fit-again Messi.

But Vidal's qualities shouldn't be underrated. The flexibility to play in the middle and at the back will be invaluable for a squad beset by injuries so far this season.

Of course, manager Luis Enrique won't have those benefits until the new year. In the meantime, his Messi-less squad will struggle to negotiate tough league games against Villarreal, Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, as well as a vital European clash with AS Roma.

While Suarez is capable of being a match-winner in any game, Barca are sure to miss Messi's decisive contributions. By the time Messi is back and Turan and Vidal have signed on, Enrique's men are a good bet to have lost vital ground, both domestically and in Europe.