Al-Sadd does not intend to let Xavi leave for Barcelona, the Qatari top club said in an official statement. On Tuesday evening, a delegation from Barça landed in the oil state in the hope of being able to bring in the former midfielder as the successor to Ronald Koeman, but Al-Sadd does not want to participate in that.
Vice president Rafa Yuste and general manager Mateu Alemany took the plane to Doha on Tuesday after the Champions League match with Dynamo Kiev (0-1 win) to continue negotiations with Al-Sadd. “We welcome the delegation from Barça, we appreciate and respect it,” Al-Sadd general manager Turki Al-Ali said in a press release. “The club’s position has been clear from the start: we are determined to keep our coach Xavi with us and we cannot let him leave at this sensitive stage of the season.”
Turki Al-Ali, CEO of #AlSadd Club: We welcome the visit of the administrative delegation from #Barcelona, ??and we appreciate and respect this. pic.twitter.com/Xs6ciiUJrh
— ?? #76 Al Sadd SC | ???? ???? (@AlsaddSC) Nov 3, 2021
Yuste and Alemany have since been spotted in Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium with Fernando Solanas and Arturo Canales, Xavi’s representatives. Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday evening just before Al-Sadd’s statement came out that it is only a matter of time before the former midfielder can be presented as a new coach by Barcelona.
According to ASH an escape clause of five million euros is at stake. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, the owner of Al-Sadd, would be willing to part with that amount if Barcelona makes “a gesture of cordiality and respect”. The sheikh would find it rude that Barca sent the vice president and general manager to Qatar. “The sheik wants to negotiate with his equal at Barcelona,” it sounded. “That means he wants to see Joan Laporta.” According to ASH it is not excluded that the president of Barça will still go to Doha to ensure the arrival of Xavi.
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