According to reports by Catalan radio station RAC1, delegates from Barcelona travelled to Doha on Friday and had a meeting with Xavi to take over from Valverde. Xavi left the Spanish side in 2015, after spending 17 trophy-laden years at the club and joined Qatari side Al-Sadd. In May 2019. The midfielder announced his retirement and since then has been coaching Al-Sadd.