Barcelona signed players who don't fit system: Xavi

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Bengaluru, September 2: Xavi was part of the golden generation at Barcelona and the midfield master said the Spanish giants have signed players who do not fit into the club's eco-system.

"I was part of an era that was so impressive that it now seems as if it's not the same. They play football well, but they could have signed better. They have fallen asleep because five or six years ago they had the best players in the world for the Barcelona system," Xavi told MARCA.

"Now they have five or six players for it, in (Andres) Iniesta, (Jordi) Alba, (Lionel) Messi, (Gerard) Pique, Luis Suarez and (Sergio) Busquets. Yet Barcelona should have 11 players who fit the system. You never used to say "this player would fit in well at Barcelona" because all those players were already there. They have signed players who do not fit the system," he said.

So what's the way out for Barca?

"Patience. In the year we won the treble Real Madrid won I don't know how many matches in a row. They appeared invincible in January, but then they lost in Valencia and then at home and we ended up winning three titles.

"The club should also look after its players and make them happy, as they were during the Joan Laporta era. They also need signings. Barcelona need everything to fall into place to win as Real Madrid are very strong," he said.

On Neymar's move from Barcelona to Paris Saint Germain, Xavi said: "He left for a number of reasons. He wanted a change of scenery because he wasn't content at Barcelona any more, because the offer was very good and because he'll be the leader at PSG. All he told me was that he wanted to leave."