Barcelona have reportedly offered club legend Xavi a two-and-a-half year contract to replace under-fire Ernesto Valverde as manager.
The club’s sporting director Eric Abidal and CEO Oscar Grau linked up with the former midfielder in Doha this week after Barcelona’s Super Cup defeat to Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia, reports AS.
The two-hour meeting was enough to convince the club’s chiefs to offer the Spaniard a deal to take over as boss at the Nou Camp.
But Al-Sadd, the Qatari club where Xavi is currently head coach, have insisted that there is no immediate prospect of their man leaving.
General manager Turk Al-Ali said the rumoured links are unsurprising but that full focus remains on the club’s league campaign.
“The issue of Xavi going to Barcelona is normal and expected because he will be at his club and it’s his first home and he must return there in the future, but as of today, Xavi is the coach of Al Sadd,” a statement from Al-Ali read on the club’s website.
“Xavi and his team are focusing on tomorrow’s match against Al-Rayyan, and we know that a club with the size and professionalism of Barcelona will take to official channels to speak of such matters.”
Xavi would face a tough task to replicate the performances he produced on the field for Barcelona in winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
