Barcelona have held talks with former captain Xavi Hernandez over taking over as Coach this summer, according to reports.
Xavi is currently the manager of Qatar Stars League football club Al Sadd, whom he took over last May and is in place until the summer of 2021.
Sporting director Eric Abidal and CEO Oscar Grau met with the former central midfielder in Qatar on Friday, as reported by ESPN and following up on claims from Catalan radio station RAC1.
The official purpose of the visit, as highlighted by the reports, was to check in with the fitness progress of Ousmane Dembele, who is returning from injury and training in Doha.
It is claimed Xavi is a ‘serious option’ to take over from Ernesto Valverde in summer, although the current incumbent is not under immediate pressure.
The purpose of the meeting was coincidental to the club’s Spanish Supercopa defeat to Atletico Madrid on Thursday, while current Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman was formerly thought to be favourite for the job.
Xavi made 767 first-team appearances for the Catalan giants between 1998 and 2015, alongside winning 133 caps for the Spanish national team.
He won eight La Liga titles alongside three Copa del Rey crowns and four Champions League trophies in his total of 25 titles with the club.
