Lionel Messi has 'five to seven good years' left at Barcelona, predicts Xavi

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez believes Lionel Messi can continue at the top level for five to seven years.

Messi will be 33 years old in June, and Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has already stated that the Catalan club must start looking to a future without the Argentine attacker.

But speaking in a Q&A with fans on Instagram, Xavi admitted that he would like to coach the six-time Ballon d'Or winner at Camp Nou in future.

When it was put to the 40-year-old that their former team-mate Samuel Eto'o had recommended that he take the job while Messi was still playing, he said: "That would be a plus.

"Messi still has five to seven very good years left. He takes great care of himself and he will be able to go on until he is 37, 38 or 39. He will play the World Cup in Qatar (in 2022) for sure."

Xavi also admitted he had turned down an offer to coach Barca in January – even though sporting director Eric Abidal later claimed the Blaugrana had not negotiated with the World Cup winner.

"In January it wasn't the [right] moment," he said. "I had conversations with Abidal and [Oscar] Grau and there was an important offer, but it wasn't the moment.

"I need a bit more experience. Coaching Barca is my dream, I would like to one day, I have said so many times."

Asked his thoughts on a possible return for Neymar, Xavi said: "In football terms, there's no doubt he is one of the three to five best in the world. He can make the difference.

"Let's hope he returns to Barca. I'm a Barca fan and I want the best there. He would be an extraordinary signing."

The current Al Sadd coach also backed Quique Setien, who took the Barca job after his refusal in January.

"I like Setien's idea," he said. "I always like [Pep] Guardiola's teams, the teams that don't speculate, the ones that go on the attack – those are the ones I like to watch."