- Football
Xavi: Only regret is not playing with Scholes
Barcelona midfielder Xavi has revealed that the only regret he's had in his 16-year career is that he never got to play with Manchester United legend Paul Scholes.
After announcing his retirement from international football having won a World Cup and two European Championships with Spain, Xavi has confirmed he will remain with Barcelona, whom he has helped to seven La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues.
Spain's most-capped outfield player of all time with 133 appearances to his name, Xavi, 34, has admitted he dreamed of lining up alongside Scholes in midfield at club level one day.
"When I think about all I have won with Spain and Barcelona and all they great players I have played with - it is impossible for me to have any regrets," said Xavi.
"Maybe one small regret is that I never got to play with Paul Scholes - but I was never going to leave Barcelona and he was never going to leave Manchester United."
Scholes' United side were beaten in both the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals by Xavi's Barcelona. In the Wembley encounter three years ago, Xavi's team-mate Andres Iniesta was quick to swap shirts with Scholes at the final whistle and later revealed he had hung it on the wall at his house.
Xavi has spoken before of his admiration for Scholes. In 2011, he said Scholes, who retired from England duty at the age of 29, would have been valued more if he was Spanish.
"In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen - the most complete - is Scholes. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything," Xavi had said.