Xavi Hernandez to stay with Barça though June 2016

Barcelona: Midfielder Xavi Hernandez has signed a contract extension that will keep him with FC Barcelona through June 2016, the club said Monday.

The 33-year-old has been with Barça since the start of his professional career, appearing in a record 659 official matches for the club. Hernandez signed the two-year extension in the presence of club President Sandro Rosell, Vice President Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta. "This is a special day because it means I`ll spend more years at Barça, this is where I want to be," Xavi said. "My first choice was always to stay here. The club has made an effort and I am grateful." Hernandez declined to speculate about how long he will remain with the Catalan club. "I know how demanding it is but I`d like to stay many more years," he said. "There are many players that are able to play in my position and they`ve shown that they can do it." "Barça will continue to perform when I`m not around," he said. IANS