Next week is a hefty week with the UEFA Champions League resuming its glamorous course. Of course Barcelona are playing Barcelona-lite at the Emirates next Wednesday and the Guardian sat down with Catalan icon Xavi, chatting to him about all things, well, football.

Now the usual interview ahead of an important game would involve some player replete with a well-cut suit, a boot-bag and a smirk, being irksomely polite towards the other team. “They’ve been in great form, I’ve been really impressed by them and they will be a stern test for us.” Nothing novel ever said. Alackaday, I just wasted fifteen minutes listening to/reading the same twaddle I did last Friday.

But here is something refreshingly vibey and not in any desperate need of word-polishing. Have you ever heard/read an interview where a player has been so brutally honest as to make himself sound like he’s high on something other than his own self-importance? Somebody who gives insight into the mantra of his club’s success beyond saying “we’re going to work hard, close them down and take our chances”.  Here is your answer.

Those unfamiliar with football should at least remember that Spain won the World Cup in South Africa last year. If not, crawl back under your rock you ignoramus. He is considered by many as the finest central midfielder to have played the game. Here is an excerpt from the interview I have provided a generous shortcut to.

[Xavi’s face lights up]. Yeah? Really? Rooney? That makes me proud. Rooney, wow! Rooney is extraordinary, he could play for Barcelona. And before people imagine headlines like “Xavi says Rooney to join Barcelona” – although, I’d love him to! – what I mean is that he’s our kind of player. That game was wonderful, the best I’ve played. The feeling of superiority was incredible – and against Real Madrid! They didn’t touch the ball. Madre mía, what a match! In the dressing room, we gave ourselves a standing ovation.

While in many ways this extract resembles James Joyce’s contemporary Spaniard (were there one) it is in fact a modern day footballer speaking. He describes himself as “philosophical and romantic”. I was under the impression that footballers weren’t aware of such adjectives. I also learned that putada is Spanish for ‘bummer’. My Spanish extends as far as the phrase puta de tu madre, courtesy of lip-reading any Spaniard when he misses the target. This Friday piece is a gesture of my mucho appreciado, Xavi, for the football and, finally, some cultured words.

[Source: Guardian]

Main image via oleole.com