Xavi: City need ‘three exceptional players’
SPAIN and Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez has urged City to back Pep Guardiola in the summer transfer market by securing marquee additions.
The Blues endured a disappointing campaign, finishing 18 points adrift of Liverpool in the Premier League and suffering a Champions League exit at the hands of Lyon.
A host of names have been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer and Xavi believes three players are needed in particular.
However, he’s set the bar high as he believes City are in need of three ‘exceptional’ additions that he admits will not come cheap.
“To not win one of the Premier League or Champions League will be a big disappointment for Pep - those are the two he would have wanted,” he said.
“The Champions League even more so because Manchester City have never won it.
“They have some very good players of course they do - but Pep needs to be supported in the transfer market this summer. It is not that they need many players just three exceptional ones. We know that will not come cheap - but I would like to see Pep given the money to rebuild.”
The World Cup winner also believes that City paid the price for not replacing Vincent Kompany last season, though he admits it will be impossible to replace the likes of him, David Silva and Sergio Aguero. They (City) have got to the stage that you see at all big clubs, where some very important players are coming to the end of their careers,” added Xavi.
“Kompany was one of the best central defenders in the world and there are maybe one or two defenders in the world that can replace him at his peak.
“For Silva it is the same - he is a once in a generation player and it is going to cost big money to try and replace him. Aguero has one season left - how many strikers in Europe are there that will guarantee you 30 goals a season like he has for so long?”