OFFICIAL: Xavi to become Barcelona head coach

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 6 Nov 2021 02:58 CDT
• 3 min read

Xavi will become Barcelona's new head coach imminently, the Camp Nou side have confirmed.

Xavi has signed a deal that will see him contracted with the club until 2024.

He will be presented in Barcelona on Monday 8 November, meaning that Sergi will remain in temporary charge of the club for Saturday's match against Celta.

Previously, Al Sadd had indicated that the midfield icon had reached an agreement to sever his deal in Qatar.

This, however, is the first confirmation from Barcelona that the club legend will definitely be coming back.

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In a statement released at close to 02:00 in the morning local time, Xavi said: "It wasn't goodbye, it was 'see you soon'. The Camp Nou has always been my home.

"You're my fans, my people, the club that I love the most. And now, I'm coming home. See you soon, Culers. Forca Barca."

While the return of Xavi to the club following the sacking of Ronald Koeman on 27 October appears to be a logical one, there were hurdles to clear before the 41-year-old could make his return.

Not only did he not have a clause in his deal with Al Saad that made his release straightforward, Barcelona president Joan Laporta had seen the legend used as a chip in his rivals' election campaigns in the spring.

Xavi has a great deal of work on his hands at Barcelona, who lie ninth in the table, six points behind the top four and nine off the pace of leaders Real Sociedad.