Former Barcelona star Julio Alberto has paid tribute to Xavi.

Alberto has been impressed by Xavi's worth this season with Barca now set to be confirmed LaLiga champions.

He told Sport: "I love Xavi very much, we are very close.

"I wouldn't let him go out every day at a press conference . He is very exposed and it is not necessary for him to be giving explanations every day. It's a barbarity. You have to change something in current football.

"80 percent of what you manage has nothing to do with football alone, 20 percent is game."

On Leo Messi's potential return from PSG, Alberto said: “I am very fond of him and we have maintained a very good relationship. I wish he would come back. But it's hard for him to come back as a player, it's clear to me because of his age.

"He would occupy the place of someone who may be in a position to be one hundred percent for 50 games. There comes an age when he has to leave. But he can return with an important charge. This would do it. He should be our ambassador. The flagship."