The 40-year-old midfield legend - who joined the Spanish side as a young teenager and left in 2018 to play for Japanese side Vissel Kobe – hung up his boots last year and though he has been tipped for a coaching role at his former club one day, he insisted it isn’t something he’s thinking about at the moment, though he’d like to follow in the footsteps of some of his old managers.

He told FourFourTwo magazine: “I know many people expect me to coach Barca one day, but right now I’m not thinking about that.

“That’s a huge responsibility, especially since I’m just starting out.

“Of course, it’s my home and hopefully one day I will return – we’ll see in what capacity and when.

“It would be beautiful. Guardiola, Xavi, and then Iniesta? Yeah, sounds good.”

Though the Spaniard would have liked to have kept playing into old age, he has no regrets about retiring when he did.

He said: “A few months ago I retired after a year playing for Emirates Club in the UAE Pro League.

“The word that defines how I feel about my career? Pride, in having worked hard until the very last training session.

“The rest is history; titles, defeats, good moments and bad. But what stands out is never giving up.

“I would have played until 90, but I’m happy to have fulfilled the dream of becoming a footballer.

“I’m at peace.”