Barcelona remain hopeful they can persuade former player Xavi to make a dramatic return as coach immediately rather than in the summer, according to reports in the Spanish press on Sunday.
Xavi is currently in charge of Qatari team Al-Sadd, who confirmed on Saturday he has held talks with Barca.
The Spaniard who won pulled the strings at the heart of Barcelona’s midfield in their golden era admitted it is his “dream job” to take charge of the Catalans.
Barcelona’s sporting director Eric Abidal and chief executive Oscar Grau met Xavi on Friday in Qatar and then again on Saturday night following Al-Sadd’s Qatar Cup semi-final win over Al-Rayyan.
According to Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo, Abidal and Grau have offered Xavi the chance to replace Ernesto Valverde immediately, even if Xavi’s preference would be to wait until the end of the season.
