Former FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez is not planning to be the coach of the Spanish club according to his current club, Al Sadd.
Reports across Europe claimed that Xavi is the favorite to become FC Barcelona‘s next coach even though he still has two years left on his contract.
In a statement published on the club’s official Twitter handle, Al Sadd insisted that Xavi still has 2 years left on his contract with the club. The Qatari club insisted that the Spanish tactician is focused on his job at the club.
“In response to what’s circulating recently, the #AlSadd management reaffirms that Xavi has a two-year contract with the club and is fully focused on the team’s upcoming matches, to maintain our lead at the top of the league and to defend the title,” the club’s statement.
In the same vein, during a press conference ahead of Al Sadd vs Al Ahli league game, Xavi said: “I’m currently focused on my work with Al Sadd and I cannot talk about anything else.”
Xavi played for Al Sadd after leaving FC Barcelona in 2015. He played for the club for about three years before he was made the coach of the club in 2019.
Since then, he has helped Al Sadd to win seven major trophies and the club is currently topping the league table in Qatar.
FC Barcelona have been in contact with Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez
Meanwhile, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that he has been in contact with Xavi two months before coach Koeman was sacked.
According to the football administrator, FC Barcelona decided to give Koeman more months to return the club to winning ways but he could not. Hence, he had to be sacked.
In a press conference on Friday, October 29, 2021, newsmen thought Koeman would confirm whether Xavi would leave Al Sadd for FC Barcelona. However, the football administrator failed to confirm the progress the club has made in the negotiation.
While acknowledging that people close to FC Barcelona have recommended Xavi to him, Laporta noted that Xavi is still an evolving coach and would not mind if he continues to evolve at FC Barcelona.
“My opinion about Xavi as a manager is he is in a process of learning, evolving, I have really good references from close people who know him better than me in that way,” Laporta said.
“I am talking to him because he loves football, he is a huge Barca fan, it is one of his goals in his life.
“If he is the one able to manage this squad, I have a great relationship with him and he is a possibility because we will see how everything will continue evolving.
“These are private conversations between friends and I cannot explain what we talked about.
“I already told you and I cannot explain anything about our options because it will not be professional and it will affect our plans. I am sorry, but I cannot tell you anything.
“I have always said one day he will be Barca’s head coach but I don’t know when. We have great references for Xavi at Al Sadd.
“All our reports about Xavi are positive. We can talk a lot about Xavi but I cannot give you more details. He is in all the papers, but we also have other options.”
In response to what’s circulating recently, the #AlSadd management reaffirms that Xavi has a two-year contract with the club and is fully focused on the team’s upcoming matches, to maintain our lead at the top of the league and to defend the title.#AlwaysAlSadd pic.twitter.com/dJP4g0xZBx
— 🏆 #76 Al Sadd SC | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) October 29, 2021
