Dani Olmo has reserved special praise for RB Leipzig teammate Xavi Simons ahead of their Bundesliga clash against Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich in the Topspiel on Saturday evening.
The Spaniard has two assists in six league games since returning from injury, and is creating a fruitful relationship with Xavi. The Dutchman, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, is enjoying an excellent maiden season in the Bundesliga with six goals and seven assists in 21 games.
“Xavi is a different player,” Olmo told the club’s website. “He has shown that so far in the time he has been here. We connect really well on the pitch but he can also do things on his own. He has an amazing dribbling technique, finishing as well.
“He’s a really complete player and for us, for our system, for how we play, our ideas, the coaches’ ideas, it is perfect for us. Now he’s in a really good mood, in a really good shape so this is very helpful.”
According to FBRef, Xavi is ranked eighth in the Bundesliga for key passes (47) this season, fourth for shot-creating actions (112), and fifth for progressive carries (95). The 20-year-old is one of the Bundesliga’s best creators in the final third, and Leipzig would do well to hold on to the youngster beyond the summer.
Xavi joined RB Leipzig on a season-long loan from PSG in the summer, which doesn’t include a purchase option. At one point, it looked as though the Bundesliga side may have been able to negotiate a deal for the Dutchman but with Kylian Mbappé’s pending departure from the Parisien club, PSG may look to build their attack around Xavi.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder
