Finally, it’s official! Six years after his departure from FC Barcelona, for a golden exile in Al-Sadd, Xavi Hernandez will return to his club. The Qatari club announced the information this Friday on Twitter: “Xavi informed us a few days ago of his desire to go to Barcelona given the difficult period that the club in his city is going through, we understand and we decided not to get in his way. “
Turki Al-Ali: The #AlSadd administration has agreed on Xavi’s move to Barcelona after the payment of the release clause stipulated in the contract. We’ve agreed on cooperation with Barcelona in the future. Xavi is an important part of Al-Sadd’s history and we wish him success. pic.twitter.com/3FvCOdYl5X
– 🏆 # 76 Al Sadd SC | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) November 5, 2021
Now 41 years old, the former strategist of the Blaugrana and the Spanish selection will settle on the bench of an institution in the midst of a sporting and financial crisis, still traumatized by the departure this summer of Lionel Messi from PSG.
The end of a long soap opera
For months, the name of the 2010 world champion and double 2008 and 2012 European champion returned in the conversations of “butt” supporters and in the dreams of the leaders of the current 9th in La Liga. On Wednesday, vice-president Rafa Yuste and football director Mateu Alemany took off for Doha to convince Al-Sadd to let go of his technician, in office since his retirement from a player two years ago.
Long recalcitrant, the Qatari club ended up being convinced, while Xavi was also pushing to return to Catalonia. Al-Sadd evokes “a release clause” without specifying the amount. The Barcelona daily Sport announced a contract until June 2024 on Wednesday.
This return marks the end of the interim assured for two games by Sergi Barjuan after the ouster of Ronald Koeman on October 28. And the start of Barça’s revival?