The former Barcelona defender opens up about his close relationship with Xavi Hernandez
The former Barcelona defender is the recent debutant in Spain Oscar Mingueza he opened on close relations with Xavi Hernandez. The Celta Vigo defender explained that he was part of the reason he left the Catalan club.
As happened with Sergino Dest, Mingueza left Barcelona the summer after Xavi's arrival. Both were regular right-backs under Ronald Koeman but moved to pastures new when the legendary midfielder arrived.
“When Xavi arrived, we didn't get along. He didn't like me or anything. He told me I had to play 10 games. I don't think I had the best mentality in the world. I trained to train, I playing to play… That's why I left Barça, to try to regain the motivation to play, enjoy and improve my performance,” he told TV3, as quoted by Sport.
Lionel Messi will be at the gala for 125 years of Barça. He prioritized his love for the club over the strained relationship with president Laporta. Messi will have some role in the event. @laiatudel pic.twitter.com/S9MHFxwUZM
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) November 21, 2024
He also said that the current youth culture in Barcelona deserved a lot of praise for their achievements.
“The club was in a very critical moment and I, like almost all the players of that team, ended up the same. Casado, Cubarsi and company. We have to value a lot what they do. If you are a defender and you make a mistake, you're in the picture and you're screwed. They'll make mistakes, but when they do they shouldn't be killed.”
Mingueza has gone from strength to strength at Celta, and this season he can count himself among the most creative players in La Liga. This earned him subsequent calls to Spain, and even talk of a return to Barcelona. They have a 50% sell-on fee included in their contract, while Mingueza has a release clause of 20 million euros with Os Celestes.
