Xavi leaves Qatari club, returns to Barcelona as manager

Former Barcelona star, Xavi, is set to return to his former club as manager.

Already, Al Sadd which he presently manages said they have agreed to allow him to join the Spanish giants.

The Qatari club tweeted: “Xavi is an important part of Al Sadd’s history.

“The 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.”

The Qatari club had previously said their 41-year-old boss would not be allowed to leave.

Xavi, who played 779 games and won 25 titles with Barca, had said publicly he hoped “to go home” as Barca boss and that an agreement could be reached.

Al Sadd said Barca have paid the release clause in Xavi’s contract.

The World Cup and two-time European Championship-winning former Spain international left Barcelona for Al Sadd in 2015, first joining the club as a player.

Since Barcelona sacked Ronald Koeman on 27 October, Xavi has been heavily linked with a return to the Nou Camp where he spent the majority of his illustrious playing career.

Barcelona are ninth in La Liga after winning only four of their opening 11 games, leaving them nine points adrift of leaders Real Sociedad.

“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,” said Al Sadd chief executive Turki Al-Ali.