Fame came early to Xavi Simons, the footballer millions knew about before he could really call himself a star. He was the kid who had a dedicated social media staff at the age of 14, an endorsement contract with a major sportswear firm at 13.
At seven he was recognised far beyond the junior pitches of Spain where, with his long curly hair and his nimble close control, he was catching the eye in the age-group teams of Barcelona.
Xavi – he prefers to go by his first name – has been a star-in-waiting for most of his life. He is 20 now, and, while that is hardly a time to start looking back with satisfaction, he can confidently feel that some of the scepticism that swirled around him during his childhood and his teens was misplaced.
Xavi was all hype, some used to suggest; he was a starlet at least as agile at getting himself marketed as at dribbling past fellow schoolboys.
In Amsterdam on Friday evening, Xavi will take on the finalists from the last World Cup, France, in the jersey of his native Netherlands, and do so thrust into the role of senior attacking midfielder.
He will carry considerable responsibilities in a Dutch side injury has deprived of Frenkie de Jong, among others. The manager Ronald Koeman will ask Simons to take on much of the creative work, given he is missing two of his better attacking duellers, Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay because of fitness issues.
But Koeman trusts Xavi. He has started all seven matches for the Netherlands since Koeman began his second stint in charge of the national team and his club form in that period fully justifies the promotion.
Last season, nobody scored more goals in the Dutch Eredivisie than Xavi, who had agreed to spend the last year of his teens at PSV Eindhoven.
So assured was he in his first senior campaign as a first-team regular that Paris Saint-Germain, who had sold him to PSV the previous summer, immediately exercised their €6 million buyback option in the deal.
He remains a PSG property, looking more or more like the prize asset they were delighted to lure away from Barcelona’s youth-team ladder when he turned 16.
Born in the Netherlands, the son of footballer, Regillio Simons, who played close to a decade for various clubs in the Eredivisie, Xavi was given his not-so-Dutch first name by his parents in honour of the former Barcelona midfielder and now Barca coach, Xavi Hernandez.
He was three when the family moved to Spain, and there he embarked on his precocious, heavily-posted and broadcast sporting education at Barca’s La Masia academy.
When PSG swooped in to offer better terms than Barcelona could give him at the cusp of his becoming a senior professional it made headlines. La Masia lost a high-profile student; PSG had raided Barca again, just as they did – albeit at much higher cost – in triggering Neymar’s vast buyout clause at Barcelona.
At both Barca and PSG, Neymar was an ally for the young Xavi, and an inspiration, both in aspects of his technique and in how to cultivate fame.
In Paris, the Brazilian watched Xavi gradually reach milestone moments – a league debut for PSG just before his 18th birthday, a first start the following season, and enough minutes here and there to feel his Ligue 1 winners medal in 2021-22 was earned.
But since first joining PSG, the French club have worked their way through four different coaches, all with different perspectives on the best balance of youth and age.
By the time Xavi signed for PSV, Mauricio Pochettino, who had given him most first-team opportunities, had left Paris. As Luis Enrique replaced Christoph Galtier this summer, the judgment was made that the breakthrough year Xavi had experienced in Eindhoven, and indeed as part of the Dutch World Cup squad in Qatar would be best followed with a loan.
He joined RB Leipzig in August on a 12-month deal. He promptly scored three times and set up four more goals in his first four Bundesliga outings.
“He’s exceptional in his all-round game,” said Marco Rose, the Leipzig manager, who praised the attitude of a young footballer who, having spent much of his life in an artificial sort of limelight, would be forgiven for imagining the trappings of success are a matter of routine. “He’s never satisfied,” noted Rose, “he’s always working and looking for more.”
Thomas Tuchel, who was PSG coach when a 16-year-old Xavi arrived there and now manages Bayern Munich, sees in the maturing Xavi’s impact on the Bundesliga the same qualities that stood out in all those childhood video clips and later on the PSG practice pitches. “Technically, he’s very strong,” said Tuchel, “comfortable on the ball and a real goal threat.”
The Netherlands, who lost 4-0 to France in Paris last March with a similarly depleted team as they will field on Friday, may now need all the best parts of Xavi Simons’ repertoire.
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UFC%20FIGHT%20NIGHT%3A%20SAUDI%20ARABIA%20RESULTS
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
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Rankings
ATP: 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 10,955 pts; 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8,320; 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6,475 ( 1); 5. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 5,060 ( 1); 6. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 4,845 ( 1); 6. Roger Federer (SUI) 4,600 (-3); 7. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4,110 ( 2); 8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,960; 9. John Isner (USA) 3,155 ( 1); 10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,140 (-3)
WTA: 1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7,030 pts ( 3); 2. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6,290 ( 4); 3. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,582 (-2); 4. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5,307 ( 1); 5. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,100 ( 3); 6. Angelique Kerber (GER) 4,965 (-4); 7. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4,940; 8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,430 ( 1); 9. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3,566 (-6); 10. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,485 ( 1)
Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans
Jasmin Mujanović, Hurst Publishers
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
