Barcelona icon explains why things have gone wrong for Xavi

Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic says a lack of experience in Xavi's squad is a factor in their downturn this season.

The Catalan giants cantered to a 27th La Liga crown last season, seeing off arch-enemies Real Madrid by ten points, but have been well below their best this time around. Performances have been so bad that Xavi has already declared his intention to leave the club in the summer, citing the need for a "change of dynamic".

Barca are highly unlikely to retain their title, sitting five points behind Madrid having played a game more, though they do have an outside chance of winning the Champions League - the 1-1 draw with Napoli in the first leg of their round of 16 clash putting them in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals.

But Rakitic, who spent six seasons at the club and won four La Liga titles, four Copa del Reys and a Champions League, believes mistakes have been made in regards to turning over personnel, in particular allowing experienced players to leave the club at a time when youth was breaking into the first team.

"It's a little bit like when you're a little kid and you have a girlfriend but you don't pay much attention to her, and then you don't realise it until you lose her. Real Madrid has been able to do everything right, little by little," Rakitic said in an interview with Spanish publication MARCA.

"There are Toni and Luca still leading the team. Barcelona might have gone too fast. I'm convinced that Gavi and Pedri, who have spectacular talent, will be the future of Barcelona and Spanish football, but I think our help, as they've called us the old guys, would have been good for them.

"I'm sure all those boys like Bellingham and company appreciate the daily learning they get from them. It hurts to see it because Barcelona has been my home for six years, and I have a very, very special affection for it."

He added: "Besides, Xavi is a close friend of mine, and seeing him suffer hurts me to the core. Seeing him like this hurts me a lot, but I hope they can fix it with the results."

Rakitic elaborated on his praise for Madrid's infrastructure, suggesting their success was down to president Florentino Perez working towards a long-term plan.

"I speak with the utmost respect because he has been my rival for many years, but seeing what Florentino Pérez is achieving is something to say bad. They get what they are looking for. There is a plan. Presidents are not always right, but he was right in his decisions, with the players, with the stadium, with everything around him, with the image of the club.

"We must congratulate him and, above all, how Real Madrid is carrying out this change from a single generation to the next one that comes. Everything makes a difference and that ends up being noticed."

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