Xavi set to become Barcelona manager after Al Sadd announced departure

Barcelona have paid the release clause

Legendary Barcelona midfielder Xavi looks set to seal an imminent return to the club as manager after Al-Sadd confirmed they had reached an agreement for his departure. Barca sacked Ronald Koeman earlier this months following a poor start to the season. Though Xavi was instantly named as one of the favourites to take the job, Al-Sadd, the Qatari club at which he has cut his managerial teeth, expressed a reluctance to let him leave. Reports in Spain have claimed Barcelona, whose dire financial position has been widely reported throughout the last year, would be required to pay Al-Sadd a release clause amounting €5m to get their man, casting some doubt on whether the deal would happen. However, a message from the club's CEO, Turki Al-Ali, confirmed on Friday that an agreement between the two parties had been reached after the 41-year-old expressed a desire to return to the Camp Nou. 'The Al-Sadd administration has agreed on Xavi's move to Barcelona after the payment of the release clause stipulated in the contract,' the tweet said. 'We've agreed on cooperation with Barcelona in the future. Xavi is an important part of Al-Sadd's history and we wish him success. 'Xavi informed us a few days ago of his desire to go to Barcelona at this particular time, because of the critical stage his hometown club is going through, and we understand this and decided not to stand in his way. 'Xavi and his family will remain welcome in Doha, and our relationship will continue.' https://twitter.com/AlsaddSC/status/1456574716911788035 Barcelona currently sit ninth in La Liga after losing three and drawing four of their opening 11 fixtures. They are, however, on course to make it through to the Champions League, having moved into second in their group with a midweek win over Dynamo Kiev. Related links:

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