ROMAN WANTS TO SIGN THIS 12-YEAR-OLD FROM BARCA
XAVI SIMONS is 12 years old and in demand, with Chelsea among those who would dearly love to prise him away from Barcelona.
Chelsea have been on his trail for months, but interest has increased since his starring role in the La Liga Promises tournament, held last month in Miami.
This Under 12s competition has a reputation as the first reliable glimpse of the best emerging Spanish talent. Andres Iniesta was snapped up by Barcelona after impressing for Albacete.
Simons, a midfielder with a mature understanding of the game, an eye-catching shock of blond hair and football in his genes, has been on the radar for some time.
Chelsea made their first move in 2014, according to his father Regillio Simons, a former striker and coach in the Dutch Eredivisie, who now works in the Ajax academy and splits his time between Amsterdam and Barcelona.
‘Agents are everywhere,’ said Simons, whose Amsterdam-born son was named after Barca great Xavi Hernandez.
‘Even at a younger age they were starting to approach me making offers, asking to be his agents, offering shoes and contracts and money like you can’t imagine.
‘We don’t need any of that just now. Xavi’s development is the most important thing. Even if we need to move it is the development that’s important. Not the money.
‘We have spoken to Chelsea and you know it’s going to be good money at Chelsea. I’m not someone who will be starry-eyed. Barcelona is already a big club and it brings him some kind of pressure and he is handling it well. That’s good for me.’
Xavi was three when his father’s playing career ended and the family moved to Alicante, where he was first spotted by Villarreal.
‘He joined the system at Villarreal,’ said Simons. ‘They were very happy with his progress and wanted him in the academy system but he was six and already playing with their Under 9s.
‘I didn’t want him playing in the Under 9s at six, so I said no. It was a week later when Barcelona called and wanted him to go for a trial.’
Xavi joined Barca’s La Masia academy at seven. Five years on, he and Hugo Alvarez of Celta Vigo, known as Huguito, are considered to be the outstanding talents of their age in Spain.
Real Madrid and Barca are reported to be tracking Huguito. So are Chelsea, via their Spanish scout Vicente Fernandez. They are all hungry for the next big thing, and it could be Simons. ‘I try not to look on it as a coach,’ said Simons. ‘I want to be a dad.
‘I try to watch in a superficial way: that’s a goal, that’s a good pass, but it’s hard. When I look as a coach I think he has a lot of quality and if I listen to what people are saying to me he’s got the extra quality that makes him a special talent.’
He adds: ‘He has a very sober attitude. He comes home with the MVP trophy, but he doesn’t look at it. He is busy with other things, playing on his phone.
‘When he plays, he looks professional. But as soon as he’s off the pitch, he’s a kid.’