Player Discovery-XAVI SIMONS

 

The name is Xavi Simons, a 13-year-old wonder kid currently captain of the La Masia Under-14s side.
However, this Xavi is not Spanish, but Dutch and is the son of former footballer Regillio Simons – who spent his entire career playing in the Netherlands.

Yet Regillio is a Barcelona fan and he and his wife Peggy named their son after their hero… Xavi.
At that stage, Xavi Hernandez was just 23, but already an established star in Spain and a hero in Barcelona.
Perhaps young Simons was destined for glory the day his name was chosen, but one thing is for sure, ‘the new Xavi’ is a seriously gifted footballer.
While he doesn’t necessarily play in the Xavi Hernandez mould, Simons is an aggressive midfielder with an intense mindset and a veteran footballer’s brain.
Barcelona immediately noticed the potential when they plucked him out of his first club – Club Deportivo Thader – and added him to their youth ranks… aged just seven.
Since joining Barca, Xavi Simons has proven to be hard-working, competitive and with a tireless engine, effective in both attack and defence.

He plays like a born leader and was immediately named the Under-14s captain.
Xavi’s enthusiasm is infectious and his ability to control the tempo of play, while adding a dash of flair is as exciting as any youngster to ever kick a football.
In fact, reports in Spain suggest the Blues were so impressed with the youngster, they offered his parents a mega-money deal to relocate to London.
Barcelona – not wanting to lose their brightest talent since Lionel Messi – convinced Regillio and Peggy that their boy has a bright future at the Nou Camp.
Simons’ parents rejected Chelsea’s offer, but they came back again in January… and are set to do so again this summer.
                                          Watch a clip of xavi potential

Talent is one thing, potential another, but winning? That’s an entirely different ball game.
So is Xavi Simons – dubbed ‘Golden Curls’ in Barcelona – a natural-born winner? You’d better believe it.
Since breaking into the Barca youth squad in 2010-11, he made an immediate impact, leading them to the league title at the first time of asking.
He then moved up to the Benjamin A team – again winning the league thanks to a thumping 6-0 victory on the final day of the season.
Another promotion – this time to the Alevin C side – saw the side utterly dominate and romp to yet another league title.
The 2016-17 season has been something truly special, winning every, single game – all 25 of them – scoring 164 times and conceding just 14.
While it’s a team game, Xavi Simons was the stand-out star and was deservedly awarded the Most Valuable Player award.
Watch this space as any moment from now,a new iniesta shall emerge or maybe Xavi Hernandez