Barça supporters have been calling for his arrival for several months. In Doha, where he has been coaching Al-Sadd since 2019, the training where he ended his playing career, the person cautiously dodged the subject. But with the dismissal of Ronald Koeman, this Thursday, Xavi (41) could, indeed, be called to the bedside of the Catalan institution joined at the age of 11, at the training center of La Masia, before mark its history. The conditional still remains, however, because the technician is currently under contract.
Sources close to the Emirati club even deny the rapid realization of this file: “It’s false. For the time being. “It is no doubt necessary to seek the nuance in” for the moment “. The Spanish media announced on Thursday an imminent appointment of Xavi. It may be a question of waiting more. The time, already, for the leaders of Barça, announced in Doha in the coming hours, to convince Al-Sadd to release the former Barcelona star.
Xavi and Barça, it is in any case 767 games (2nd most capped player behind Messi, 778) and one of the most beautiful achievements in football history: eight Spanish Championships, six Spanish Supercopa, three King’s Cups, four Champions Leagues, two European Supercup, two Club World Cups without counting two European Championships and a World Cup in 2010 with the selection of Spain (133 selections). He was launched in the first team by the Dutchman Louis Van Gaal at the age of 18 in 1998 and played for Barça until 2015. He left him on a last treble Champions League-Liga-King’s Cup before leaving for Qatar.
He flirted 3 times with the Golden Ball
Xavi and Barça, it’s also a certain idea of football. A featherweight physique (1.70 m) but a big activity, an intelligence above the average and a game based on possession and short passes. The player embodied him to perfection in the company of his alter ego Andrés Iniesta, another Camp Nou icon, notably under the direction of Pep Guardiola (2008-2012). It was during this period that Xavi flirted with the Golden Ball, finishing three times in a row on the 3rd step of the podium (2009, 2010, 2011).
Given his aura and the coast he has among the supporters, the expectations for him are enormous in a club plunged into gloom since Messi’s departure for PSG in August 2021. “He is one of the ex- teammates with whom I have the best relationship. He has never hidden that he wanted to coach Barça and I am sure that one day his opportunity will present itself and he will do it in a spectacular way, ”said former defender Carles Puyol.
“When it comes to owning the ball, Xavi may be unique”
In Qatar, in a minor championship, Xavi wanted to take the time to train and put his ideas in place before taking the big leap. “I feel ready to coach any team in the world. When I was offered Barça (in January 2020), I had barely been a coach for three months. Now it’s different. I have more experience, I learned a lot here. I want to tell everyone that I am very happy in Qatar, even if… ”, explained the Spaniard last October.
With Al-Sadd, he won seven titles including the Qatari Championship last season. On Friday, his team won the Emir’s Cup against Laurent Blanc’s Al-Rayyan (1-1, 5-4 in the tabs). In total his record is 58 wins, 12 draws and 16 defeats. Former Xavi teammate in the selection, Santi Cazorla joined Al-Sadd in July 2020. He is well placed to describe the paw of the ex-midfielder on the bench.
“His style is possession of the ball, training is based on possession exercises, position games,” Cazorla explains in Marca. It is the pure school of Barça. He understands football that way and plays it. He’s not the only one, but when it comes to owning the ball, Xavi might be one. In La Roja, when we were teammates, we already had this football philosophy. It is very clear to him. “For him, he is the man for the job:” I see him perfectly prepared. It’s his dream and he has it in mind, no matter when it happens. He internalized it, and few people know the club like him. “
In the meantime, the officialization of the successor to Koeman, Sergi Barjuan (49), current coach of the reserve team and former historic defender of the club, will act as interim.
