Al-Sadd’s media officer has claimed they have not received an offer from Barcelona for manager Xavi and has hit out at the La Liga side for an apparent lack of professionalism.
Sergi Barjuan has been put in temporary charge of the team while Barcelona look to bring in Xavi, who has long been president Joan Laporta’s preferred choice to replace Ronald Koeman, and talks with the former midfielder have been ongoing for months. Xavi is wanted by Barcelona that’s all well and good, but as far as Al-Sadd are concerned, they’re fuming with the whole thing.
We’ve already seen the Qatari side bite back on social media with a post reminding Barcelona that Xavi has a contract to respect, and now media officer Ahmed Al-Ansari has joined in the frustration.
“There is no official offer on the table from any party,” he wrote. “Any club that has a bit of professionalism is supposed to negotiate with the other side if it wants a player or coach who is under contract.”
Reports in the Spanish media have suggested that a deal for Xavi is already done, even going as far as to ‘confirm’ the date of his arrival at Camp Nou, but 90min understands this is not the case.
Al-Sadd have always maintained that they would not stand in Xavi’s way if Barcelona came calling, but it appears as though the Qatari Stars League leaders are not exactly best pleased with Laporta’s behaviour during this whole saga.
“I have a great relationship with Xavi, I have been speaking with him in the last month, I know his opinion about this squad, what he thinks has to happen. We talk as two friends and in this case my opinion is a really good one,” Laporta said earlier this week.
“I am talking to him because he loves football, he is a huge Barça fan, it is one of his goals in his life. If he is the one able to manage this squad, I have a great relationship with him and he is a possibility because we will see how everything will continue evolving.”
