Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez started his career as a Spanish La Liga manager with a win over Espanyol in the Catalan derby over the weekend. Xavi Hernandez was able to mark the occasion of his first game as the new Barcelona manager.
One of the biggest things that Xavi Hernandez has done since his appointment as the Barcelona manager was to bring back former teammate Dani Alves to the Nou Camp at the age of 38. The Brazilian fullback has signed a short-term deal with the Catalan giants, but he won’t start playing until next year. Dani Alves and Xavi Hernandez were teammates at Barcelona for many years, winning several trophies in the process including three Champions League titles. Alves had been playing for Sao Paulo in his native Brazil over the past months before left the club over unpaid wages. The veteran fullback failed to report to training unless the Brazilian club settled the unpaid wages. In the end, his Sao Paulo contract was terminated for him to become a free agent. Alves was a free agent when Barcelona signed him.
Alves was not in the Barcelona squad for the first game under Xavi Hernandez in the Spanish La Liga at the weekend as he’s not eligible to play for Barcelona until the start of January 2022.
Xavi Hernandez was able to start his time as the Barcelona manager with a win in the derby clash with Espanyol at home. Dutch international Memphis Depay scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Espanyol. Depay scored via a spot kick at the start of the second half after he was fouled in the Espanyol box.
Barcelona have moved two places ahead on the Spanish La Liga standings to seventh position with the slim win over Espanyol.