AP, New York :
After winning 15 major titles at Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez is expected to return to the club and win some more – as its coach.
Speaking Thursday during an interview at The Associated Press’ headquarters, Barcelona President Josep Bartomeu said Hernandez is using his time at the Qatari club Al Sadd to prepare for a future role in Spain.
“He’s right now not only playing, he’s also learning as a coach. So of course one day Xavi will be one of the coaches of the club,” Bartomeu said. “I don’t know which team of ours, but of course with the objective of one day coaching our first team.”
Hernandez joined Barcelona’s youth academy La Masia when he was 11 and was the playmaking midfielder for the first team from 1998-2015, winning eight titles in the Spanish league, four in the Champions League and three in the Copa del Rey. He joined Al Sadd for the 2015-16 season and turns 38 in January.
Neymar is not for sale, even if European media say Paris Saint-Germain wants to buy the 25-year-old Brazilian striker.
“He is not on the market,” Bartomeu said.
Neymar joined Barcelona for the 2013-14 season, and last October the club announced a three-year contract extension through 2020-21. Neymar who combined with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez to form an attack that led Barcelona to the Champions League title in 2015 and a pair of Spanish league championships.
“He has a contract for the coming four years and, of course, we count on him. He’s part of our team. He’s part of this trident,” Bartomeu said.
Neymar’s deal includes a buyout clause that increases from 200 million euros ($230 million) in its first year, to 220 million euros ($253 million) in the second year, to 250 million euros ($288 million) in the third year.
“These clauses are impossible to activate, if you want to comply with the financial fair play,” Bartomeu said. “If someone doesn’t want to comply, then of course it can be activated.”
After winning 15 major titles at Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez is expected to return to the club and win some more – as its coach.
Speaking Thursday during an interview at The Associated Press’ headquarters, Barcelona President Josep Bartomeu said Hernandez is using his time at the Qatari club Al Sadd to prepare for a future role in Spain.
“He’s right now not only playing, he’s also learning as a coach. So of course one day Xavi will be one of the coaches of the club,” Bartomeu said. “I don’t know which team of ours, but of course with the objective of one day coaching our first team.”
Hernandez joined Barcelona’s youth academy La Masia when he was 11 and was the playmaking midfielder for the first team from 1998-2015, winning eight titles in the Spanish league, four in the Champions League and three in the Copa del Rey. He joined Al Sadd for the 2015-16 season and turns 38 in January.
Neymar is not for sale, even if European media say Paris Saint-Germain wants to buy the 25-year-old Brazilian striker.
“He is not on the market,” Bartomeu said.
Neymar joined Barcelona for the 2013-14 season, and last October the club announced a three-year contract extension through 2020-21. Neymar who combined with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez to form an attack that led Barcelona to the Champions League title in 2015 and a pair of Spanish league championships.
“He has a contract for the coming four years and, of course, we count on him. He’s part of our team. He’s part of this trident,” Bartomeu said.
Neymar’s deal includes a buyout clause that increases from 200 million euros ($230 million) in its first year, to 220 million euros ($253 million) in the second year, to 250 million euros ($288 million) in the third year.
“These clauses are impossible to activate, if you want to comply with the financial fair play,” Bartomeu said. “If someone doesn’t want to comply, then of course it can be activated.”
