Al-Sadd said in a tweet on Twitter late Friday night, that “in interaction with what was circulated in the previous days, the Al-Sadd administration confirms that Xavi is linked to a two-year contract with the club.”
The club added that Xavi “is at the top of his focus to play the team’s upcoming matches to maintain the top of the league and the title.”
The name Xavi, 41, has recently emerged as one of the strongest candidates to succeed Ronald Koeman in Barcelona’s training, which is going through a difficult period in the Spanish League and the Champions League.
The Catalan club announced the dismissal of Koeman, on Wednesday, after the 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano, which left Barcelona in seventh place in the La Liga table.
And earlier on Friday, Barcelona club president Joan Laporta said he was studying other possible names besides Xavi to succeed Koeman, without mentioning them.
Laporta said, “The name Xavi is in all the news, but Barcelona has other options. I have never changed what I say about Xavi. One day he will become Barcelona’s coach. What I don’t know is when.”
Barcelona appointed reserve coach Serge Barjuan as interim coach, and Laporta said he would be responsible for Saturday’s match at home against Alaves, and perhaps a Champions League match next week in the Ukrainian hosts Dynamo Kiev.
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