Barcelona to name club legend Xavi new manager

LaLiga giant Barcelona are finalizing paper works to name club legend Xavi as the new head coach after he met with club Directors in Doha.

Current Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde is under-fire following a dismal performance in the Spanish Super Cup as his side conceded two goals in the last 10 minutes to slump to a 3-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the King Abdullah Stadium. The collapses against Roma and Liverpool continue to haunt the manager as their away form remain abysmal.

It’s one step closer to Barcelona for Xavi as the club’s sporting director, Muhammad Ghulam Al Balushi, director deportivo del Al Sadd, confirmed on television station, AlKass, that there has been contact and negotiations between Xavi and his former club.

The Catalan giants have been in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup and took opportunity to meet their former star in neighbouring Qatar to discuss the managerial position.

“There are negotiations between Xavi and Barcelona now and we wish him well wherever he wants to go,” he said ahead of the club’s Qatar Cup semifinal between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan.

The possibility that Xavi takes charge of Barcelona and starts next week are gathering pace. Eric Abidal, Barcelona sporting director, and Oscar Grau, the CEO, meet with Xavi in Doha in an effort to convince him to come and take over the club.

Xavi  has expressed willingness to coach Barcelona someday, but insists he’s fully focused on the job at hand with Al-Sadd.

“I can’t deny that my dream is to coach Barcelona,” Xavi said on Saturday after leading his side to the Qatari cup final.

“I’ve said it so many times, in a lot of interviews.

“Everyone knows that I’m a Barcelona fan, the club are in my heart and my dreams.

“But for now I’m focused on Al-Sadd.”

“Abidal is my friend,” Xavi added, “I’ve met with him a lot of times.

“I respect Barcelona, I respect Valverde and I respect my contract.

“I’m doing my job here. I’ve been focussing on the semi-final and now I’m thinking about the final.

“I’m very happy to be coaching Al-Sadd and I respect this club a lot.”I can’t say anything else.”

Anthony Nlebem