"He is a Barca man who knows the club, who has been raised here, who has a lot of personality and, when he was a player, I liked watching him play," said Xavi. "He has a lot of presence, both in the dressing room and on the pitch."

Xavi also hit out at criticism of Barca's players after another trophyless season.

"We may have missed many things, but not our attitude, that has never failed. I do not understand any player, a professional who is playing with me, in the best club in the world, who has no commitment to the shield he represents."