Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Barcelona: After an association with Barcelona lasting almost a-quarter-of-a-century legendary midfielder Xavi will make the move to Asia, with the 35-year-old joining 2011 AFC Champions League winners Al Sadd at the start of next season.
In addition to playing for the 13-time Qatar champions Xavi will reportedly act as an ambassador for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, start on his coaching qualifications, and work on projects with Aspire Academy, the sports education and training facility that nurtured and developed the majority of the Qatar players who recently won the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship.
"I'd like to announce that I'm leaving Barca after this season," the Catalan club’s longest serving and most decorated player said at a news conference on Thursday.
"I've been at the club for almost 25 years but this is the time for me to leave. I have a thrilling project in Qatar where I will play for Al Sadd for the next two seasons.
"I also have an enthusiastic project in the Aspire academy [a sporting academy based in Qatar]. I will be able to work towards becoming a coach or a sporting director in the future.
Xavi, who becomes the second La Liga superstar to join Al Sadd following Real Madrid’s Raul, admitted that the decision to leave the Catalan giants was not taken lightly saying:
"The decision is definitive yet difficult
"I had a very good offer to renew with Barca, but I didn't even tell my mother.
"I think the Qatar project is nice, and it's ideal for me. In the future I'd like to come back to Barca."
"I'm happy to have stayed at Barca this year. I did well to remain for another season even though I've had less playing time. I could not have asked for a better career and I want to thank the Barca fans, who have treated me very well.
"I'm very happy with how things have gone and I leave having given everything."
But before Xavi heads to Al Sadd, who will feature in next year’s AFC Champions League having finished runners up to Lekhwiya in the 2014/15 Qatar Stars League, he has the chance to add yet more winner’s medals to his already unprecedented haul of silverware, with Barcelona set to face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on May 30 and then Juventus on June 6, where he will be looking to win the UEFA Champions League for a fourth time.
"It's a special end to my career at Barca," said Xavi, who has also won the 2010 World Cup and 2008 and 2012 European Championships with Spain.
"Having won La Liga, I'm really looking forward to lifting the Copa del Rey.
"We have the opportunity to make history and I just want to win our last two trophies."
Photo: AFP