Is it just that, though? Barca might've overpaid due to reasons you mentioned, but they saw much more in him than he's currently showing. This wasn't expected for him, though, they might've had fears it's how it would end.
Of course you are, Atletico's bound to a rough stretch and Real keeps winning despite you guys being riddled with injureis. I see how it ends and don't like it, at all.
Xavi's defence splitting passes, highly creative and out of box solutions contributed a great deal to his game. Big difference between him and other known so-called controlers.