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.’
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After reaching an agreement to end his contract with Qatari club Al Sadd, Xavi Hernandez is set to be confirmed as Barcelona’s head coach. The 41-year-old, who last played for Barcelona in 2015, will take over from Ronald Koeman. 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, reportedly began talks with Xavi a few weeks ago, and stated that he was willing to accept an offer to return to the Camp Nou, but talks with Al Sadd took longer than expected.
Xavi is a product of Barcelona’s youth system and is one of the club’s most celebrated and decorated players. His managerial career began at Al Sadd in May 2019, after he finished his playing career there, and he led the team to victory in Qatar’s Amir Cup final last month.
Barcelona is ninth in La Liga and sacked Koeman following a defeat at Rayo Vallecano. Sergi Barjuan has been in charge in the interim, overseeing a draw at home to Alaves and a win at Dynamo Kyiv to move the team to second place in their Champions League group. He will take charge of 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.”
Barcelona sacked head coach Ronald Koeman after 14 months in charge of the club. The Dutchman’s departure was announced after the loss to Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league. It was the Catalan club’s fourth defeat in six games in all competitions. Earlier, they lost to rivals Real Madrid in the Clasico at Camp Nou. A brief statement was released by the club’s website confirming club president Joan Laporta has relieved the Dutchman of his duties as first-team coach.
It added: “Ronald Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva. FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the club and wishes him all the best in his professional career.”
Koeman left with the club placed at ninth spot in the La Liga standings with 15 points from 10 games. Pressure had been building on the 58-year-old tactician since the 3-0 defeat at Benfica in September. The defeat was their second consecutive one by the same margin as they were thrashed by Bayern Munich in mid-September. It made this season the club’s worst-ever start to a Champions League campaign.
Barcelona succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano in early October courtesy of goals from Thomas Lemar and Luis Suarez, their former striker. The 2-1 defeat to Los Blancos was Koeman’s third El Clasico loss in a row. After the game, a crowd of fans targeted the Dutchman and his car was attacked. The 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano was the culmination of a difficult period Koeman has been going through the last few months.
