Mueez Ajao
– Xavi Hernandez is returning to Barcelona as their new coach following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman.
– Barcelona announced in the early hours of Saturday that Xavi has agreed to a contract through 2024 after the former Spain midfielder was released from his contract as the coach of Qatari club Al-Sadd.
– “FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Xavi Hernández for him to become first team coach for the rest of the current season and two more seasons,” Barcelona said in a statement headlined “Welcome back home, Xavi!”. “Xavi Hernández, a youth team product at Barça, has left his current club, Al-Sadd of Qatar, after talks held over the last few days with the owners of the club.”
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– Interim coach Sergi Barjuan will remain in charge for Saturday’s match at Celta Vigo. Xavi will be introduce as the new coach on Monday and his first game will be the Catalan derby against Espanyol at Camp Nou on Nov. 20.
– “It wasn’t goodbye, it was ‘see you soon’. The Camp Nou has always been my home,” Xavi said in a video addressed to the fans.
– “You’re my fans, my people, the club that I love the most. And now, I’m coming home. See you soon, Culers. Forca Barca!”
– Al Sadd released a statement on Friday morning confirming Xavi’s departure.
– “The Al Sadd administration has agreed on Xavi’s move to Barcelona after the payment of the release clause stipulated in the contract. We have agreed on cooperation with Barcelona in the future.
– “Xavi is an important part of Al-Sadd’s history and we wish him success. 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.”
– The Qatari club published a video of Xavi saying goodbye to his players during a team meal. Several players wished him a fond farewell in the video.
– “All the best. Muchas gracias, Xavi,” defender Tariq Salman said.
– “It is a good step in his career,” former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla added, “and of course we will miss him a lot.”
