Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez expressed his admiration for Napoli’s defensive midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, stating his desire to see the Slovakian international join Barcelona.
Speaking at a press conference prior to Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League match against Napoli, Xavi responded to an Italian journalist’s question about which Napoli player he would prefer to have at Barcelona.
“If I had to say one, it would be Lobotka,” he said. “I like how he builds his game, never missing a single ball. I would like to see him at a club like Barcelona. In my opinion, he could make a difference here the same way he has for Napoli.”
Lobotka, aged 29, made the move to Napoli in 2019 from LaLiga outfit Celta Vigo for a transfer fee of €21 million ($22.9 million).
He has been a regular starter in all 28 of Napoli’s Serie A matches this season, as well as featuring in their seven UEFA Champions League games.
Additionally, Lobotka played in every match during Napoli’s successful 2022-23 league campaign and started in all 10 of their Champions League fixtures.