Barcelona Legend Xavi Hernandez tests positive for COVID-19

Xavi Hernandez, a legend of FC Barcelona has tested positive for the dreaded COVID-19. The 40-year-old ex-football star turned football manager announced this today via his Instagram page.

While making the announcement, the Spanish football legend who currently manages a Qatar Stars League football club Al Sadd, posted a picture of himself with a lengthy caption written in Catalan and Spanish.

In the caption, Xavi Hernandez revealed that he would not be able to lead his team because he had just tested positive for the highly contagious virus. He also revealed that David Prats, the coach of the Al-Sadd reserves would act on his behalf until he recovers from the infection.

He wrote: “Today I won’t be able to join my team on their comeback to the official competition. David Prats will be there on my behalf as head of the technical staff – coach to the Al-Sadd reserves.

“A few days ago, following the QSL (Qatar Stars League) protocol, I tested positive in the last COVID19 test. Fortunately, I’m feeling ok, but I will be isolated until I am given the all-clear. When the health services allow it, I will be very eager to return to my daily routine and to work. I’d like to thank all the authorities, especially those working in [the] QSL, [the] QFA (Qatar Football Association) and [at] Al-Sadd for supplying the means of early detection, reducing the spread of infection and that guarantees the normal development of the competition.

Take care and see you soon on the football pitch! ⚽”

View this post on Instagram

Avui no podré acompanyar el meu equip en la tornada a la competició oficial. David Prats, entrenador del filial de l’@alsaddsc, ocuparà el meu lloc com a cap de l’equip tècnic. Fa uns dies, seguint el protocol de @qsl, vaig donar positiu en l’últim test COVID19. Afortunadament em trobo perfectament, però seguint el protocol, continuaré aïllat fins que ho hagi superat. Quan els serveis mèdics m’ho permetin, m’incorporaré a la meva rutina i feina diàries amb més ganes que mai. Agraeixo a totes les autoritats, especialment als responsables de @qsl, @qfa i d’ @alsaddsc per posar a la nostra disposició tots els mitjans per a una detecció precoç que eviti més contagis i garanteixi el desenvolupament normal de la competició. Una abraçada i ens veiem aviat als camps de futbol! ⚽ _____ Hoy no podré acompañar al equipo en la vuelta a la competición oficial. En mi lugar y a la cabeza del staff técnico estará David Prats – entrenador del equipo filial de @alsaddsc – Hace unos días y siguiendo el protocolo de @qsl di positivo en el último test COVID19 que me realizaron. Afortunadamente me encuentro en perfecto estado pero, siguiendo el protocolo, aislado hasta que lo haya superado. Cuando las autoridades sanitarias me lo permitan, me incorporaré a mi rutina y trabajo diarios con más ganas que nunca. Agradezco a todas las autoridades y en especial a los responsables de @qsl, @qfa y de @alsaddsc el poner a nuestra disposición todos los medios para una detección precoz que evite mayores contagios y garantice un desarrollo normal de la competición. Un abrazo y nos vemos pronto en los campos de fútbol! ⚽️

A post shared by Xavi (@xavi) on Jul 25, 2020 at 2:02am PDT

The journey of Xavi Hernandez so far

Xavi Hernandez joined La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, at age 11. From then, he graduated to the Barcelona‘s first team where he spent the best part of his career before he left the club to join a Qatari club Al Sadd at the end of the 2014–15 season on a three-year deal. Before he left Barcelona, he helped the club to win 27 titles including 8 Spanish La Liga and 5 UEFA Champions League.

After enjoying his time at Al Sadd as a footballer for three years, his contract was extended for another two years but had to serve as a player-coach during those years. On 28 May 2019, the Barcelona legend took charge of the club as a manager on a two-year contract.

Due to his performance with Al-Sadd, he has been touted to take charge of Barcelona even before Ernesto Valverde was sacked in January 2020. However, Quique Setien was appointed ahead of him.

In recent times, he has also been touted to take over as the manager of Barcelona since Quique Setien has failed to meet up with the expectation that comes with being Barcelona’s manager.

Amid the speculation that he was coming to Barcelona this summer, Al-Sadd announced that Xavi Hernandez has extended his contract with the club until June 2021.

Xavi: Happy to renew my contract with #AlSadd, I’m working with the club’s management during the current period on a number of issues, including the renewal of Akram Afif’s contract, and signing foreign players to replace Gabi and Marco Fabianhttps://t.co/y5yUunEkzG pic.twitter.com/oamTseHo9Z

— AlSadd S.C | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) July 5, 2020