Named Xavi after the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder – his older brother Faustino takes his name from the ex-Colombia, Newcastle and Parma forward Asprilla – Amsterdam-born Simons was only three when the family relocated to Alicante after his father, Regillio, called time on his own playing career.
Regillio, a former striker in the Dutch top flight, once said his son, by the age of three or four, could watch and understand games at a level far beyond his years.
His talent was also undeniable. There were offers from local clubs Elche and Cadiz as well as Villarreal, but then Barcelona came calling with an opportunity too good to ignore.
His footballing education would take place at the iconic La Masia. Simons proved a star student.
“Technically he was super, but the mentality and the behavior on the pitch was different,” remembers Moral. “His attitude was like a winner, always.
“He is a very good guy, a bit shy, not the guy who is always speaking but on the pitch he is an animal. All the time with his friends ‘come on, come on’, motivating them.”
In an interview after joining the academy, Simons – who became good friends with current Barca and Spain left-back Alejandro Balde – said he liked “having the ball, scoring, passing and changing the tempo”.
“He was very small, one of the smallest players in the academy, but he was fast and he was strong,” adds Moral, who also trained Spain star Gavi.
“He was never afraid, always wanted the ball, always wanted to do his best. You could feel his energy. He would play ‘pow, pow, pow’ all the time.”
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