'Xavi the best midfielder of all time' - Villa

The prolific striker hopes that the Qatar-bound player is able to enjoy the next chapter in his career after a legendary spell at Camp Nou.David Villa has hailed former Barcelona and Spain team-mate Xavi as the best midfielder of all time.Xavi announced last week that he will leave the Blaugrana at the end of the season to link up with Qatari outfit Al-Saad, thus bringing the curtain down on a 24-year association with his boyhood club.The playmaker lifted 23 titles during his 17 years as a professional at Camp Nou, as well as two European Championships and one World Cup with Spain.
And he still has the chance to add two more winners' medals to his remarkable haul, with Barca set to face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final this weekend before meeting Juventus in the Champions League decider seven days later.New York City striker Villa played alongside Xavi at both club and international level and he insists that the 35-year-old is peerless.It's a joy to have been able to know him as a person, to have been able to play by his side for so long with the national team and for three years at Barcelona," Spain's all-time record goalscorer told EFE.He's of our league, he's Spanish, he's played in the national team and in Barcelona, and the truth is it is an honour for everyone to have had him in our game. He is the best midfielder of all time.I hope that things go really well in his new experience.Villa spent three years at Barcelona, between 2010 and 2013, winning eight trophies in total, including two Liga titles and a Champions League.