Al Sadd confirm Xavi is set to become next Barcelona manager
Stefan Bienkowski
- Updated: 5 Nov 2021 11:17 GMT
- 5 min read
Al Sadd CEO, Turky Alali, has confirmed that the club have given Xavi permission to leave and become the next manager of Barcelona.
The former Spain international has been heavily linked with the vacant position at the Catalan side since Ronald Koeman was sacked last month.
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Despite initially denying such rumours, the Qatari club then confirmed on Twitter on Friday that they had reached an agreement with Barcelona to allow Xavi to return to his former club.
“The administration agreed on the transfer of Xavi to Barcelona after paying the penalty clause stipulated in the contract,” said club CEO Alali on Twitter on Friday.
“We agreed with Barcelona on practical cooperation in the future, Xavi is an important part of the history of our club. We wish him all success in the next stage.
“Xavi informed us in the past few days of his desire to go through the Barcelona experience at this particular time because of the critical stage his city club is going through, and we understand this and decided not to stand in his way.
"Xavi and his family will remain welcome in Doha, and the relationship will continue."
When will Xavi take charge of Barca?
Reports in Spain have suggested that Xavi has already travelled to the Spanish city and spoke to his former club, so if terms have already been agreed then Barca may announce their new manager very soon.
The Catalan giants are next in action on Saturday, when they take on Celta Vigo in the Spanish top flight.
That match will surely come to soon for Xavi to manage from the sidelines, but it’s perfectly possible that the former midfielder will be in place for the club’s clash with Espanyol on November 20, following the international break.
