Barcelona legend Xavi hints desire to return to Barcelona
The legend first came in contact with a move back to Barcelona was during the time the Catalona outfits fired former boss Ernesto Valverde early in 2020 and the Barc made attempt to replacem Valverde with Xavier Hernández.
However, Xavi, who played for Al Sadd after leaving Barcelona and now coaches the Qatari failed to reach agreement with Barca after talks with sporting director Eric Abidal never materialized.
READ MORE: Al Sadd respond to rumours that Barcelona want to replace Valverde with Xavi Hernandez
The coaching job later fell the way of Quique Setién while Xavi remained managing Al Sadd. The former Barcelona midfielder has now hinted returning to Barcelona is still part of his big plan, during an interview with La Vanguardia.
“I am clear that I want to return to Barcelona, I am very excited.
“Maybe years ago I could give myself some respect, but now that I have seen myself coaching I think I can bring things to the players.
“But I made it clear to them that I saw myself in a project that started from zero, and in which the decision making was mine.”
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Xavi joined La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, at age 11, and made his first-team debut against Mallorca in August 1998. In all, he played over 700 matches, a club record, and scored 85 goals.
He is the first player in the club’s history to play 150 European and FIFA Club World Cup matches combined. With Barcelona, Xavi won eight La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles.
He has won 31 trophies for Barcelona and Spain, a total only surpassed by Andrés Iniesta as the most decorated Spanish player in history.
