Barcelona are in talks with Xavi Hernandez over the coach's position at Camp Nou, Al Sadd's sporting director has confirmed.
The Catalans' CEO Oscar Grau and sporting director Eric Abidal met the club's former midfielder in Qatar on Friday as pressure mounted on coach Ernesto Valverde following the 3-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
"Xavi going to Barcelona is normal and expected because he will be at his club, it’s his first home and he must return there in the future, but as of today, Xavi is the coach of Al Sadd," the Qatari club's general manager Turki Al-Ali said later on in the day.
But on Saturday, after Al Sadd's cup clash with Al Rayyan, the team's sporting director
No indication was given as to when Xavi might take over from Valverde, but Barca are thought to have sounded out the 39-year-old on a future role as coach and an imminent arrival has not been ruled out by the Catalan club.
Xavi said: "Coaching Barça is my dream, I cannot hide that. Everyone knows. But my focus is on Al-Sadd. I do not say anything (else). I want to have respect for Valverde.
"I cannot say anything, I am focused on Al Sadd. (Barça) were here to talk to me, also to check on Ousmane Dembele. That's it. I cannot say. Sorry. I cannot inform you too much. Just that I met with Abidal, my friend ... I am focused on my team, Al Sadd."
Xavi made a record 767 appearances for Barca's first team between 1998 and 2015, winning 25 trophies during his time at Camp Nou.
