Why I Turned Down Barcelona Offer: Xavi

By Daily Sports on January 17, 2020

Xavi Hernandez has confirmed he turned down an offer to coach Barcelona as it is "too soon" in his managerial career.

The Barcelona legend was considered for the position after the club sacked Ernesto Valverde on Monday.

Soccer's Money League: Ridiculous ads that make cash for the top-10 clubs

Barcelona appointed Quique Setien as Valverde's replacement after Xavi, who is coach of Qatari team Al-Sadd, declined the offer to return to the club where he won the Champions League four times and La Liga on eight occasions.

Speaking ahead of his team's game against Al Duhail in Friday's Qatar Cup final, Xavi said: "Yes, I received an offer from Barcelona in the presence of [Barca sporting director] Eric Abidal and [Barca chief executive] Oscar Grau here in Doha but I did not accept it, especially because it's too soon for me to coach Barcelona. But it will continue to be a dream of mine in the future to manage Barca."

A World Cup winner with Spain in 2010, Xavi came through Barca's academy and made 855 senior appearances for the club.

He joined Al-Sadd as a player in 2015 before being unveiled as coach last July. The 39-year-old is tied to Al-Sadd until June.

"First I told my family and then [the] players because they had been monitoring the situation," Xavi said of his decision to turn down Barca. "For the past three days I wasn't in the best position but now I'm fully focused on Al-Sadd."

Xavi said Barca have made the right choice in appointing Setien.

Setien, 61, has been out of work since leaving Real Betis last summer and has signed a contract until 2022.

"I love Barca's new coach," Xavi said. "I love the way he works and I hope he has success with the team." (ESPN)

•PHOTO: Xavi Hernandez 

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 17, 2020


 

You may also like...
FA to probe incident after Manchester United players...

Guardiola Has No Complaints Despite Missing Out On...

Nwabali equals Ogedegbe’s 44-year AFCON record

Chukwueze relishes ‘incredible’ goals against Madrid

Sky Blues seeking to bounce back

Tyson Fury vs. Dillian Whyte odds, predictions, betting...

 

Latest News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,164 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,307 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,370 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,742 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,311 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,507 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,931 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media