Xavi Hernandez has been critical of the role the La Masia is playing in the Barcelona first team in recent times.

He came up through the Barcelona youth system and knows how the first XI was constantly being supplied by the La Masia. But that chain of supply appears to have been broken, and the Al-Sadd player lamented in an interview with Tactical room about a week ago.

“In general Barcelona have been sleeping,” he said.

“They have to boost the cantera and their model of play. Young players have to learn this form of play so that when they arrive in the first team they already have the concepts properly learned.”

Josep Maria Bartomeu replies.

In a chat with New York Times, when reminded of Xavi’s criticism, he responded: “No, no.”

“The problem is Xavi, and Iniesta, and Leo Messi, and those players.”

“It is very difficult to be a player, and when you have in front of you Leo Messi, or you have Neymar, or Xavi, Iniesta, [Sergio] Busquets or [Gerard] Piqué. It is very difficult to be there.”

“Xavi was in the first team for 15 years. Those 15 years mean that 15 boys that played in his position had to leave the club. Iniesta, now, I think it is 16 or 17 years.”

“It is very difficult. Or Leo Messi? Who is going to be the new Messi? Well, probably, other players will be Messi, but they have to leave our club because it is impossible. Xavi said “go slowly,” but the problem is Xavi! He created the problem. And Iniesta and Piqué. They created the problem.”

The post Bartomeu Replies Xavi and explains why La Masia players are not making the first team appeared first on SOCCERINFOMANIA.