Xavi on his dazzling comeback, working alongside Jürgen Klopp and RB Leipzig's European dreams
Xavi's red-hot return to action for RB Leipzig couldn't have come at a better time – now, the Dutchman explains why European football is a non-negotiable for his club next season.
With just 12 matches left until the end of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season, and RB Leipzig currently occupying the fourth and possibly final UEFA Champions League place, there is very little margin left for error.
Thankfully for the Saxony-based side, talismanic forward Xavi has fully returned to form and fitness in time for the run-in following his lengthy injury lay-off. Since his comeback against Werder Bremen on Matchday 16, the Dutchman has six goal involvements (three goals, three assists) in seven Bundesliga displays.
bundesliga.com sat down with the 21-year-old to talk comebacks, Jürgen Klopp and Playstation...
bundesliga.com: Xavi, you seem to have started the new year welll. You’ve made a brilliant comeback after your injury, with three goals and three assists to your name already. How are you feeling?
Xavi: “Yeah, first of all, I'm really happy to be back on the pitch. I'm happy to be healthy and to be together with the squad and, of course, I'm happy with the numbers as well, although I want to achieve even more.”
bundesliga.com: Are you saying you’d have liked your return to have gone even better?
Xavi: “Yeah, I could have scored more or provided more assists. But in the end, the most important thing is how we play and how we manage to win games. As I say, we can always do better.”
bundesliga.com: Leipzig ran the headline, “The Entertainer Returns” when you made your comeback against Werder Bremen. What is it about your game that makes people happy?
Xavi: “I would say maybe it's the way I play. I try to bring something extra to the team and a little more joy. Of course, I love that the fans love me, and I hope to give them more of the love they deserve.”
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bundesliga.com: You always seem to play football with a smile on your face. What’s your secret?
Xavi: “Yeah, I've always tried. My big brother always said to me, ‘Xavi, you have to enjoy yourself – even on the biggest stage, you have to keep playing like you're on the playground when you were younger.’ I try to remember that and enjoy playing as much as possible because, yeah, this is my life. This is what I love. It's nice.”
bundesliga.com: Fast, high-tempo football is part of RB Leipzig’s DNA. How well does that suit your style of play?
Xavi: “Really well. I think there's a really strong connection. I can learn a lot from the club's philosophy, and I can also bring my own style of play. Having a mix of both is perfect.”
bundesliga.com: At the start of 2025, RB Leipzig made your loan move from PSG permanent. How happy are you about staying at the club?
Xavi: “I'm happy. I'm happy to be at the club, happy to stay here and to try to make my mark – to leave an impression. That's my goal. Leaving my mark is really important. I'm really happy to be here, even though I could have joined bigger clubs.”
bundesliga.com: So what persuaded you to stay?
Xavi: “For me, it's as simple as trusting the process. I'm not going to rush anything; I'm going to stick to my plan. I have a plan, and I want to do it the right way – my way. And I think this is the right way to do it right now.”
bundesliga.com: Jürgen Klopp recently became the new Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull. Have you had a chance to chat to him yet?
Xavi: “No, I haven't had the chance to talk to him personally, but I've heard great stories. I’ve spoken to some fans as well, and they've told me a lot of good things about him and his personality. I think he will give the club the push we need. And of course, it's really good that we have a legend like him around the club.”
bundesliga.com: What is the ultimate aim for the RB Leipzig project? Does it end when the club becomes champions of Germany?
Xavi: “I don't know yet. I don't know when it will end. For me, the most important thing is to enjoy the present. I'm now a permanent player at RB Leipzig, so let's enjoy it and see what the future holds.”
bundesliga.com: The ankle injury was the first major setback of your fledgling career. How did you deal with it?
Xavi: “It was my first injury, small or big, whatever you want to call it. Having an operation on the first day was really hard. Being injured and knowing that I would be out for a couple of months was difficult. I was at home, thinking, ‘Okay, it's hard right now, but this is the situation, and I have to handle it in the best way possible. I have to try to come back as soon as possible, and get fit again.’ That was my main goal.”
bundesliga.com: How did you stay positive? What did you do without football?
Xavi: “I worked on myself – not only physically, training my ankle properly, but mentally as well. This is part of life, the highs and lows. You have to know how to get through it and trust the process and, in the end, for me, being mentally healthy is really important. So I kept it that way.”
bundesliga.com: In your opinion, how can Leipzig recapture their impressive form from earlier in the season?
Xavi: “Yeah, I think it was quite difficult when myself, David Raum and Castello Lukeba got injured. A lot of important players were injured at the same time, and that made it hard for everyone. But I think the most important thing is to try to bring back the joy we always had together and show that we are a team. That's what we need to start with. I believe we're on the right path since we played against St. Pauli at home, and now I think we can move forward and try to finish the season in the best way possible.”
bundesliga.com: So have you managed to recapture that chemistry within the squad since returning to fitness?
Xavi: “Yeah, right now it's good. Of course, we’ve been through difficult times, as everyone knows. But this is part of life – not everything can always be perfect. You have to learn how to deal with that and communicate with each other. I think the chemistry right now is really good.”
bundesliga.com: You’ll all have to be at your best to qualify for the Champions League again this year, with the race for the top four as tight as ever. How important is that goal for RB Leipzig?
Xavi: “It's really important to play on the biggest stage. We have to be there because we are one of the best teams – there's no doubt about it. We're working to achieve that and to earn our place, but as I say, that’s still two or three months away, so we have time to get things right.”
Watch: Xavi is a big admirer of compatriot Jeremie Frimpong
bundesliga.com: You’re considered one of the biggest talents currently playing in the Bundesliga – a division which has boasted many outstanding Dutch players in the past. Who is your favourite Dutchmen ever to star in the Bundesliga?
Xavi: “There have been a lot of good Dutch players in the Bundesliga. But I’ll choose one from last year. Someone who played at the top level and won everything: my friend Jeremie Frimpong, of course. So I would say he's the one. I would choose him.”
bundesliga.com: You're still young, but you've already lived in Barcelona, Paris, Eindhoven and now Germany. How does Leipzig compare as a city?
Xavi: “Yeah, of course, I've been in some big cities, but Leipzig is not that big. What I can say is that the people and the city are really warm. When I'm outside and I see the fans, everyone treats me very kindly. That's what makes it special compared to other cities I've been in.”
bundesliga.com: What is your favourite place in Leipzig and why?
Xavi: “I would say the stadium. The stadium is the most beautiful thing for me in the city. Being there every other weekend, with the fans. The stadium is full for every game, which is really enjoyable. That's the most beautiful part for me.”
bundesliga.com: And in your private life, do you have a favourite place in Leipzig?
Xavi: “Home, because I don't have much time to go outside and explore the city. I've seen a little bit, but not enough to say I have a favourite place. So both the stadium and home are important to me.”
Watch: inside the home of RB Leipzig
bundesliga.com: What role does family play for you and to what extent do they support you in your career?
Xavi: “They are the most important people in my life – especially my mum, my brother, and my little sister. They are always there for me, not only in the good times but also in the bad. I owe who I am today to them, and I love them. I'm really proud that they are with me.”
bundesliga.com: Describe your perfect day…
Xavi: “A perfect day? Oh, it's morning training, then an afternoon session. Some treatments at home, some recuperation, and then around four or five o'clock, I play Playstation with my friends for about two hours. Then I eat, watch some football, and then go to sleep. That's my routine. I have to rest a lot because we have so many games. So, that's the perfect routine for me.”
bundesliga.com: Name three things you couldn’t live without…
Xavi: “FaceTime calls with my family, food, and happiness. Those three things.”
buundesliga.com: Lastly, what’s your favourite food?
Xavi: “My favourite food that I could eat daily would be pasta with tomato sauce and white sauce, mixed with chicken.”
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