The best possible scenario to accelerate the negotiations and close an agreement as soon as possible to release Xavi Hernández from Al Sadd was Joan Laporta’s visit to Doha to meet personally with the Sheikh, Mohammed bin Hamad, as a gesture of respect and cordiality. Nevertheless, Finally, the president has ruled out traveling to Qatar, although it will not be an “insurmountable obstacle” either, they assure us from Xavi’s environment, underlining that “everything will be fine, with or without Laporta in the final negotiations.
This very morning first thing in the morning, and with hardly having slept, since the team landed at the edge of four in the morning in Kiev, a delegation from FC Barcelona made up of the sports vice-president, Rafa Yuste, and the football director, Mateu Alemany took a flight to Doha.
Both will have as a priority mission meet with the owner of Al Sadd to officially communicate the club’s interest in signing their coach and also personally thank the sheikh’s gesture of releasing the player from paying the release clause, well over one million euros.
It cannot be ruled out either that Barcelona and Al Sadd reach a compensatory agreement such as holding a friendly in Doha in the next two years., before the World Cup in Qatar.
After having the OK from the sheikh, it will be time for Yuste and Alemany to meet with Xavi to finish outlining the new contract, which will link him with Barcelona until June 30, 2024, also agreeing to receive a much lower salary than he currently receives at the Qatari club, but with the possibility of high variables as compensation. The biggest point of disagreement today is the number of people who will accompany Xavi on his staff. In any case, it is a divergence considered acceptable between both parties, ensuring that there will be a satisfactory and imminent resolution.