According to Mundo Deportivo (theDaily Mail's Adam Shergold), the Bavarians were willing to double his current wages, but Xavi's answer was a clear no. The veteran midfielder has spent his entire career with Barcelona, and at the age of 34, he had no interest in embarking on a foreign adventure.
Bayern instead chose to sign Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso to strengthen their midfield.
The midfield general was rumoured to be on his way to the Major League Soccer during the summer, as the arrival of Ivan Rakitic was seen by some as a sign Luis Enrique believes Xavi's best days are behind him.
According to the New York Post's Brian Lewis, he could still be on his way to New York City FC, opting against signing for the team in 2014 because they've yet commence play in the MLS. A source close to Xavi said:
Xavi will stay at Barça this year. (Marca) reported the possibility to sign with NYC, but in the last hours Xavi has decided to stay at FCB.
He wants to play and at NYC won’t do it until 2015. And at FCB he earns a lot of money. Much more at FCB than NYC.
One of the greatest passers of this generation, Xavi was instrumental to the success of the Blaugrana under Guardiola and the rise of the Spanish national team, winning two European titles and the 2010 World Cup.
While he was never the quickest or most physically imposing player, his tremendous vision and passing ability has extended his career. Xavi can let the ball do the work, while the rest of his teammates find open lanes for him to exploit.
The 34-year-old is expected to be a leader in Barcelona's dressing room this season, and while he likely won't feature as much on the pitch as he once did, his skills as a distributor can still prove vital against defensive teams pulling up a double wall in front of their own box.
Those same passing skills would have given Bayern Munich an added attacking dimension, although the German champions signed the next best thing in Alonso, a gifted passer of his own.
The Bavarians likely won't return with an offer in the January window, so don't expect the Barcelona youth product to leave the club before the 2015 summer window.
