Barcelona's Xavi Derides Messi To Real Madrid Rumours

Xavi Hernández has dismissed talk of Florentino Pérez attempting to make a Luis Figo-style move for Lionel Messi ahead of Real Madrid's presidential elections in the summer.

The Blaugrana midfielder laughed at suggestions that his highly-rated team-mate would be tempted to follow the Portuguese player's trail and swap Camp Nou for the Bernabéu.

Figo's move helped Pérez win the presidency in 2000, but Xavi thinks that there is no chance of a repeat performance with Messi as the neither Barça nor the player would allow it to happen.

"You have to be joking!" he told reporters after training on Thursday afternoon.

"I think that everyone at Barcelona is intelligent enough not to let the best player in the world go."

Barcelona's last defeat in the league came on the opening day against Numancia and this weekend they have a chance to avenge that, according to Xavi.

“There is always revenge in football. You always have thorns in your side. Now we are on a good run and don’t want it to end, although there is ‘Numantine Wall’ ahead of us," he continued.

After being rested for the Copa del Rey encounter with Espanyol in midweek, Xavi explained that he understood the decision even though he is feeling in good shape at the moment.

“I am feeling great. Everyone is planning things well. We are training properly. I have spoken to the others and we all agree," he said.

“The games where some players sit things out will help us reach the end of the season in peak condition. I am sure we’ll be strong going into the months of March, April and May.”

"We have won other times and done well with these same players, whoever plays, the philosophy is still the same. For us there is no A team and B team. That’s what you lot say. For us, every player is important."

Lucas Brown, Goal.com