Second time lucky. After a frantic day punctuated by official announcements and denials, Xavi Hernández has become the new coach of Barça, until June 30th, 2024. The signing, far from being a mere formality, was complex, as Al-Sadd made nothing easy for FC Barcelona.
The major hurdle was the release clause in Xavi's contract with Al-Sadd, worth 5 million euros. Both Barça and the would-be coach thought that the Qatari club would be flexible over this, but at the moment of truth the owner of Al-Sadd refused to let Xavi leave the club, so Barça and Xavi had to find a formula to deal with the required sum. The problem was that the Barça club was unable to do so, without breaching its obligations under UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules, and finally Barça and the player himself divided the payment so as to unblock the situation.
Xavi Hernández, in an Al-Sadd match / EFE
A mad Friday
The day began with the announcement by Al-Sadd of the transfer of Xavi Hernández to Barça, a statement in which the Qatari club announced that Barça had paid the 5 million euros of the buy-out clause. "Al-Sadd has agreed on Xavi's move to Barça after the payment of the release clause stipulated in the contract. 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."
All seemed in order, but the minutes passed and Barça did not confirm the agreement with its own corresponding official statement. Finally, almost two hours later, the Barça club reported that the agreement did not exist, as they were not going to pay the five million euros demanded by Al-Sadd.
The buy-out clause, between Barça and Xavi
With the pieces back in their starting positions, and the atmosphere between the two clubs rarefied, Xavi Hernández and Barça, aware that the only way to get out of the tangle was to put 5 million euros on the table, set out to find the magic formula.
Barça was unable to pick up the full sum of the clause, as it would have breached the Financial Fair Play regulations, so in the end it was agreed that the club take on half and Xavi the rest, the only way to resolve a problem that seemed stuck fast. The official presentation will be held next Monday, taking advantage of the fact that there is a pause in league games to play international matches, and then the coach will set to work.
Xavi Hernández, celebrating a goal as a Barça player / FCB
The return of the other prodigal son
As a player, Xavi made his Barça debut in 1998 under Louis van Gaal and spent 17 seasons in the first team, winning 25 titles, including two triples - one of which was in fact a sextet in terms of titles won. Xavi is a Barça legend, being the second player with most appearances for the club (767) just behind Leo Messi (778).
The fans have been demanding his return since he left and expectations are very high. Given this, a certain immersion in the rather-cold reality is necessary: the current squad is not comparable to what Pep Guardiola found on his arrival. There are many reasons to have faith, of course, but patience is also required. What nobody doubts is that he will commit to a characteristic style of play and will work like no other recent coach has with the Masia, Barça's youth scheme, which Xavi came through himself.
Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernández, speaking / FC Barcelona
He's now said yes, but this isn't the first time that Xavi has received a proposal to coach Barça. Josep Maria Bartomeu, in his day, tried twice to hire him, but the answer was no. During the elections he was one of the most visible faces of the Víctor Font campaign and eventual winner Joan Laporta was upset. For months, Laporta stated that he still saw the former midfield star as too green in terms of coaching skills, but now the sporting management has concluded that he is the ideal person to redirect the team's situation.
After Wednesday's match, Xavi was positive and asked his club to facilitate his departure. "I'm a very positive person. The two clubs are in talks. It's a matter of common sense and in the end it has to happen. I'm excited. Both clubs know what my position is. We need to get that sense of enthusiasm back. There is a good team and we have to get to work and put aside "isms". We all have to row in the same direction," he told the microphones of Catalonia's TV3.
Main image: Xavi Hernández, new Barça coach / EFE