Barcelona are trying to convince Xavi Hernandez to stay at Camp Nou until 2016 and not leave for Qatar this summer.
Marca reports Barca want Xavi to stay as they won’t be able to sign a replacement due to the FIFA-imposed transfer embargo, and are concerned about their squad depleting.
Albert Soler, Barca’s director of institutional relations, has met with Xavi’s agent to try and persuade him to delay a mooted move to Qatar.
Barca had however given their approval to the move which would see Xavi paid €6m a year for the next three years, compared to the €8m he would receive by staying in Catalonia.
Xavi is also to take a role with Qatar’s ASPIRE academy once he ends his playing days as part of the move to Al-Sadd, as well as acting as a Qatar World Cup 2022 ambassador. Al-Sadd have also arranged employment for some of Xavi’s family.
