Xavi :am surprised Dani stayed

The midfield ace has admitted that he thought his
former Blaugrana team-mate was all set to follow
him out of the exit door
Xavi has revealed that he did not expect Dani
Alves to stay at Barcelona but that he was always
confident that Luis Enrique would remain at Camp
Nou.
Dani Alves looked set to leave on a free transfer
this summer after failing to agree terms on a
contract extension but on Tuesday the right-back
put pen to paper on a new two-year deal, with the

option of a third year.
Xavi, who has just left the Catalan club for Qatari
outfit Al-Sadd, has now admitted that he feared
that his treble-winning team-mate was all set to
follow him out the exit door at Barca.
"I must admit that it was a surprise for me," the
midfielder is quoted as saying by Sport . "I was
honestly not expecting it.
"After his press conference and appearing to
announce his departure, he was unhappy and after
what I thought to be his goodbye during the
[treble] celebrations, I told myself that he wouldn't
continue.
"He had only told us that he still wasn't sure abo
his future and I told him that he had to stay,
because it will be better at Barcelona than
anywhere else.
"He is 32 years old, so he still has time on his
side.
"I am very happy for him and for Barca. He is a
tremendous full-back and he has had a fantastic
season."
Coincidentally, Luis Enrique agreed a one-year
extension with Barca on Tuesday that will also
keep him at the club until 2017.
The trainer's future had been in doubt in spite of
Barca's treble success, with reports claiming that
Luis Enrique had been upset by the fact that his
job had been under threat in January.
However, Xavi always felt that the 45-year-old
would be rewarded with a new contract.
"In all honesty, the doubts are something to ask
him about, but if I had been in his shoes I
wouldn't have had any doubts," the World Cup
winner added.
"He has been a good leader for the squad, he has
won three titles and he can make history by
winning three more, which would make this side
the best in Barca's history.
"Where would he go that would be better than
Barca?
"Football-wise, there should be no doubt, nor with
results, his leadership of the team has been
unquestionable.
"He is a man with a strong personality and he has
left his mark on the squad."
Luis Enrique's Barca side will now be hoping to
complete a remarkable 2015 by winning the Uefa
Super Cup, Supercopa de Espana and Club World
Cup later this year.