Xavi era ends for Barca with Rakitic the new beginning

Barcelona’s Xavi and Ivan Rakitic (R) celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League on Saturday. (Reuters)DPA/BerlinBarcelona’s legendary playmaker Xavi played his final game for the club in Saturday’s Champions League final win over Juventus but the Catalan giants have already found his replacement in the shape of Croatian Ivan Rakitic. “After I lifted the trophy, I felt nostalgic that I will never wear this shirt again,” the 35-year-old Xavi said. A 25-year association with Barca will now end for him with a move to Qatar club Al Sadd as his glorious career winds down. “I have given everything, all that I could ask for,” he said. “I am happy and proud.” Xavi was the foundation stone of former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola’s successful team, which brought the Catalans their first treble in 2009, and Spain’s dominance which brought two European Championship triumphs and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012. Scarcely wasting a pass, Xavi was the ideal component in teams prioritising possession. But all good things come to an end and Luis Enrique, Barca coach from this season, saw the need for change. An ageing Xavi was no longer quite the player he was and was gently eased from first choice to the bench. But trying to replace him directly was near impossible. The simple solution was therefore not to force a square peg into a round hole but ensure the incoming Croatia international Ivan Rakitic, captured from league rivals Sevilla, was placed in an environment where he could thrive. And he did just that. In 2014 Rakitic, now 27, was a key figure as Sevilla won the Europa League. He glided over the pitch in Turin against Benfica in the final, completing straight forward passes and striking long through balls with equal ease. Those qualities have been moved to the Barcelona midfield where he services the front trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez but he arguably offers more running and tackling than Xavi in his prime as well. In a fitting end to a brilliant first season with Barcelona, Rakitic swept home the opening goal in the 3-1 win over Juve, calmly finishing from inside the box when set up by Andres Iniesta. “That was probably the most important goal of my career,” Rakitic said on the Croatian football association homepage. “All the emotions came out. I hope this doesn’t stop, there will be more titles to win next season. “We played a great game and we deserved the win for all the work we have put in over the season. I would also like to congratulate Juventus, because they put in a good performance too. “I am happy to have helped the team, because it is difficult to come to a side like Barcelona and secure your place in the first team.” Beaten finalists Juventus can look on enviously at how seamlessly Barca have moved Rakitic ahead of Xavi as their own midfield legend, Andrea Pirlo, seems likely to depart for the United States. The Italian veteran was in tears at the full-time whistle and though the powers of the stylish playmaker are also gradually on the wane, Juventus would love to keep him. “I hope that it was not his last game for us,” Juve sport director Giuseppe Marotta said. “Andrea is an icon of Italian football and Juventus, I understand his tears.” The Juventus midfield next season, with Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal currently in place is far from weak. But filling the gap Pirlo could leave is not going to be easy. “It is not simple to replace Pirlo,” Marotta said. Perhaps that’s the worst thing about having legendary players - what happens once they’re gone?