Former Barcelona academy midfielder Xavi Simons has spoken publicly about his controversial exit from the club in 2019, insisting that his choice to join PSG was driven by the club’s lack of belief in him rather than financial reasons.
"It was clear from the beginning that they didn’t believe in me. At the time, I decided not to speak because I was focused solely on the pitch," Simons said, revealing that Barcelona told him: "We have other players we believe in, we want to offer you a contract, but you are not part of the long-term project."
His departure sparked much debate, with many thinking money was the main factor. Simons admitted that such stories hurt both him and his family. "I had been there my whole life, went through many situations, and spent my entire childhood at the club. That version of events hurt me and my family because it wasn’t true," he explained.
Simons described his transfer to PSG as an easy decision since the French club offered opportunities Barcelona didn’t. "They preferred other boys at that moment, and that was fine for me because I had PSG with a big project, already training alongside the world’s best players at 16," he added.
Despite repeated links to a Barcelona return, including last summer, the move has yet to happen.
