Xavi praise justifies Tottenham Hotspur’s reported big-money move for Barcelona’s Denis Suarez

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Xavi beleived Denis Suarez could replace him at Barcelona – but a surprise move to Spurs could be on the cards instead.

Denis Suarez has a long way to go before he can justify the club’s decision to hand him the number six shirt worn with such distinction by bonafide club legend Xavi Hernandez.

Yet, in the eyes of the four-time Champions League winning playmaker, diminutive Denis has all the potential to replace the irreplaceable in the centre of the park for the Blaugrana.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Xavi told Suarez that he could be his natural successor at the Camp Nou and publically lauded the club’s decision to hand him his old number.

Heir to the throne?

However, it does not appear that Barcelona share the same confidence in the 23-year-old, who returned to Barcelona last summer after a fine breakthrough season with Villarreal.

After a bright start, Suarez began just 12 La Liga fixtures in 2016/17 as Barca lost their La Liga title to Real Madrid. And the signing of former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho from Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande threatens to push him further down the pecking order.

As such, this has given Tottenham Hotspur encouragement that a summer deal could be there for the taking. The Mirror report that Spurs, who have not spent a single penny in the transfer market, will make a bid of £32 million, just £4.5 million shy of Suarez’s release clause.

A failure to break into Barcelona’s star-studded starting XI is nothing to be ashamed of and Spurs would be landing one of Europe’s most talented young playmakers if they managed to lure the one-time Manchester City prospect to North London.

And the fact that they would be welcoming a player adored by arguably the finest midfielder of his generation suggests Suarez, over time, could pay back every penny with interest.