Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has dismissed claims that playing Xavi will jeopardise the midfielder’s chances of playing for Spain at this summer’s World Cup finals.
The 30-year-old is currently carrying a calf muscle injury but he played through the pain in Barca’s weekend win at Villarreal.
Rumours have suggested that Xavi’s injury could rule him out of this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, but Guardiola has played down such fears.
“I don’t want him to get injured, but Xavi knows his body well and reckoned he was all right to turn out,” he said.
“Make no mistake, we both want him to be fit for the World Cup.”
Barca currently lead arch-rivals Real Madrid by one point in La Liga, with just three games remaining.
