Xavi Hernández
Xavi set to be named new Barcelona coach, as Qatar club agree to terminate Spaniard’s contract
Xavi Hernández is set to be named as the new manager of La Liga giants, Barcelona FC following the agreement finally reached with the Qatari club, Al Sadd to terminate his contract with them.
Barcelona had earlier reached a stumbling block when the Qatar club refused to allow their coach, Xavi to leave but honour his contract with them amid interest from Barcelona who wanted the former player to replace their sacked coach, Ronald Koeman.
The 41-year-old, who made the last of his 767 Barcelona appearances in 2015, will now succeed the sack Ronald Koeman with the team struggling in La Liga.
Al Sadd said on Friday that they had “agreed on Xavi’s move to Barcelona after the payment of the release clause stipulated in the contract”.
Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, started discussions some weeks ago with Xavi, who made clear he was ready to accept an offer to return to the Camp Nou, but negotiations with Al Sadd took longer than expected.
Xavi came through Barcelona’s academy and is one of the club’s most celebrated and decorated players. His career as a manager began at Al Sadd in May 2019 after he ended his playing days there and last month he led the team to victory in Qatar’s Amir Cup final.
Barcelona currently sit ninth in La Liga and dismissed Koeman after defeat at Rayo Vallecano. Sergi Barjuan has been in interim charge, overseeing a draw at home to Alavés and a win at Dynamo Kyiv that has the team second in their UEFA Champions League group. He is in line to take charge at Celta Vigo on Saturday before handing over to Xavi.
Al Sadd’s CEO, Turki al-Ali, said: “Xavi informed us a few days ago of his desire to go to Barcelona at this particular time, because of the critical stage his hometown club is going through, and we understand this and decided not to stand in his way.”
