Believe it or not, Xavi Simons can perform great at a professional level.
That curly-haired boy from the Barcelona academy only moved to PSV this summer and immediately became one of the main discoveries of the first rounds of the Eredivisie. In just three matches, Simons scored 4+2 on a goal+pass system. In the 21st century no one has started so abruptly in the Dutch championship. And Xavi is only 19 years old.
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PSG turned down Simons
Already at the age of 15, the guy signed a contract with the agency of Mino Raiola. Barcelona were skeptical about the choice of Xavi, but the social media star ignored the club’s advice. In 2019, Raiola began to breed the management of Barca for a multi-million dollar salary for the kid and immodest commissions for himself. The club twisted his finger at his temple and Mino moved Simons to PSG – they agreed to spend money there.
Simons said that he just wanted to play in a team with Neymar: «Ney reminds me of my father. He often comes to me and asks if I need anything. He is a good person off the field. It is very important. I remind him a little of his younger brother. He saw me grow up. It created a bond between us. Neymar is one of my idols».
It didn’t work out at all to play in Paris – although last season Mauricio Pochettino connected him to the main squad. Simons played six meetings in the championship, and in the French Cup against Nice he even went to beat the decisive penalty. But the newspaper L’Equipe writes that Xavi was sent for only one reason – all the remaining players refused to go to the point and take responsibility.
El Nacional reports that during the winter, Barca considered bringing Simons back, as he is admired by Xavi and President Joan Laporta, but they were dissuaded by Lionel Messi. Leo’s advice was just one of the factors that influenced the decision not to return the Dutchman. Another one is the salary at the level of the main squad player. Because of this, the guy was also abandoned in Paris, where priorities changed with the re-signing of Mbappe.
And then Simons was picked up by PSV promising coach Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Van Nistelrooy has already taken the first trophy
If you missed it, Van Nistelrooy is already coaching at the top level on his own – in the summer he led the team from Eindhoven. He has worked in various academy roles and captained the U18 and U21 teams plus assisted the Netherlands national team.
Ruud started off great, beating Ajax to win the Dutch Super Cup.
Van Nistelrooy has the classic principles of Dutch football in his blood. «My system is 4-3-3. I like to play with a six and two midfielders that come up and two wingers. Although it all depends on the characteristics of those players who are. You always have to make modifications and adapt to the situation, but above I have described my basic view».
Now the coach is not thinking about the next steps in his career. «My head is only in PSV. I’m just getting started. We have a long-term project – so far everything is going the way we want. I want to build something beautiful and important here, a team with young and quality players».
