Xavi has been offered the chance to replace Ernesto Valverde immediately, even if he prefers to wait until the end of the season. FMTNews Xavi
MADRID: Barcelona remain hopeful they can persuade former player Xavi to make a dramatic return as coach immediately rather than in the summer, according to reports in the Spanish press on Sunday.
Barcelona’s sporting director Eric Abidal and chief executive Oscar Grau met Xavi on Friday in Qatar and then again on Saturday night following Al-Sadd’s Qatar Cup semi-final win over Al-Rayyan. The suggestion on Saturday had been that Xavi would make a decision as early as Sunday, with terms and contracts already drawn up between the club.Another Spanish sports daily Diario AS reported that Xavi will take his time to decide, while noting that with “every passing minute it seems to become more difficult for Xavi to say no to the offer of joining immediately”.
There is also the club’s political situation to consider, with Xavi believed to be key to the hopes of presidential candidate Victor Font, ahead of the club elections due next year. But Champions League collapses against Roma and Liverpool have not been forgotten and poor performances in recent weeks have prompted fears of a repeat.“I respect Barcelona, I respect Valverde and I respect my club and I’m doing my job here,” Xavi said on Saturday.
The 39-year-old Xavi, who won the World Cup with Spain in 2010, came through Barcelona’s academy and played 855 senior games for the club.
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