This post has already been read 1730 times!
Former Barcelona midfielder, Xavi, has returned to the Spanish club as a manager with a contract until 2024.
The Spaniard, 41, has been a manager at Qatari club Al Sadd since 2019, but they agreed on Friday to let him join Barca after his release clause was met.
He is expected to arrive back in Spain this weekend and will be officially unveiled tomorrow at the Nou Camp.
In a video to fans, the World Cup and two-time European Championship-winning former Spain international said: “It wasn’t goodbye, it was ‘see you soon. The Camp Nou has always been my home.
Xavi, who played 767 games and won 25 titles with Barca in his 17 years in the first team, left for Al Sadd in 2015, first joining the club as a player.
He took over as head coach after retiring in 2019 and led them to last season’s league title. They are unbeaten in 36 league games.
Barcelona is ninth in La Liga after winning only four of their opening 11 games, leaving them nine points adrift of leaders Real Sociedad.
The Catalan club has this season struggled under financial pressures and failed to extend Xavi’s former team-mate, Lionel Messi’s stay because of salary constraints.
Barca president Joan Laporta has previously said: “I have always said one day (Xavi) will be Barca’s head coach but I don’t know when.”
