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Xavi will leave Barcelona in the summer to join Qatari side Al Sadd
The 35-year-old failed to win the Ballon d'Or during his career in Europe
Jose Mourinho believes Xavi deserved to have won best player award
Xavi could take his Barcelona trophy count to 25 before his departure

Published: 13:28 EDT, 23 May 2015 | Updated: 15:41 EDT, 23 May 2015

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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has heaped praise on departing Barcelona midfielder Xavi by claiming the Spaniard deserved to win the Ballon d'Or during his glittering career.

Xavi, who will join Qatari side Al Sadd at the end of the season, has failed to get his hands on the Ballon d'Or trophy despite winning an incredible 23 club honours - 25 if Barcelona win their upcoming Champions League and Copa del Rey finals - during his time at the Catalan giants.

The 35-year-old finished third on three consecutive occasions between 2009 and 2011 but was pipped to the post by Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi.

Jose Mourinho insists Xavi, pictured during his last Liga match for Barcelona, deserved to win the Ballon d'Or

Mourinho believes Barcelona midfielder Xavi will go down as one of the best players never to win the award

And Mourinho believes it's a travesty that Xavi was not given the prestigious title.

'Xavi is one of the world's best players over the past decade and he deserves to win that he will never have - a Ballon d'Or success,' Mourinho told reporters.

Mourinho also believes Xavi and Co deserve to be in the Champions League final along with Serie A winners Juventus.

He added: 'Barcelona and Juventus both deserve to be in Berlin.

'They had good seasons and proved to be far superior to the teams they faced in the semi-finals.'