Xavi has completed his emotional return to Barcelona after being confirmed as the crisis-hit club’s new boss.
He takes over the job last held by Ronald Koeman, who was relieved of his duties last week following Barca’s abject defeat to minnows Rayo Vallecano, which left the Catalan giants sitting miserable in ninth place in the league.
Now, the legendary Xavi has been drafted back into the fold to take charge of the club he left as a player in 2015 following 17 years of extraordinary success, after Barca fought to take him from Qatari club Al-Sadd and he begged to be allowed to return home.
Al-Sadd said in a statement on their official Twitter account on Friday morning: ‘The administration agreed on the transfer of Xavi to Barcelona after paying the penalty clause stipulated in the contract.
We agreed with Barcelona on practical cooperation in the future, Xavi is an important part of the history. We wish him all success in the next stage.’
Xavi, 41, won LaLiga eight times and the Champions League four times as a player at the Nou Camp – as well as the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain – before ending his career with Al-Sadd.
It remains to be seen whether Xavi will be in charge for Saturday’s LaLiga clash against Celta Vigo, with his first game more likely to be after the international break in the derby against Espanyol on November 20.
He has been honing his coaching skills in the Middle East for the last two years, all the while appearing to be groomed as a future Barca boss – and the job he was always destined for is now his, albeit in difficult circumstances.
