Barcelona legend Xavi has urged Al-Sadd to allow him to return to the Spanish club as a manager with Catalan officials reportedly in Doha to negotiate his return to the Nou Camp.
The Catalan giants sacked Ronald Koeman of his duties in October, and interim manager Sergi Barjuan has overseen a draw with Alaves with a narrow Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday.
Xavi will be in charge of what should be his last game as coach of Al Saad on Wednesday. He would then arrive in Barcelona on Thursday but the club could leave interim coach Sergi Barjuan in charge for the match away at Celta Vigo on Saturday, giving Xavi two weeks to prepare what would be his first game at home to Espanyol on November 18, according to Sportmail.
Speculation has already started as to who Xavi will want the club to bring in although president Laporta has already made it clear there will be very little the club can do in January.
Xavi has won 62 of his 90 games in charge of Al-Sadd and previously made 767 appearances for Barcelona during a glittering 17-year spell in the first team.
According to Mail Online, the 41-year-old said his farewell following Al-Sadd’s 3-3 draw against Al-Duhail in the Qatar Stars League on Wednesday, as he shook all of his players’ hands at the end.
‘I’ve been talking to Barca for days, it’s done,’ Xavi said.
‘But now it depends on the conversations between clubs, they need to reach an agreement. Barca is coming to talk, we are all eager and excited. We’ll see if it ends up being done.
‘I really want to go home. I hope it happens. I have a contract and now the clubs have to negotiate. They already know my position.’
Xavi spent 17 seasons as a player at the Nou Camp, winning eight LaLiga titles and four Champions League crowns.
Al-Sadd captain Abdelkarim Hassan admitted that he expects his manager to leave for Spain, saying: ‘Everyone is sad because of Xavi’s departure, but he will coach a big team like Barcelona.’
‘Xavi presented a new idea to Qatari football and Al-Sadd players and helped us as a great player and coach, and his ideas led us to achieve a lot despite the criticism. We will miss him a lot.’