Barcelona have opened talks with club legend Xavi about becoming their manager next season, according to reports.
Hopes of the former Nou Camp midfielder replacing Ronald Koeman appeared to be dashed when he signed a new two-year deal with Qatari side Al-Sadd this week.
But Catalan newspaper ARA report President Joan Laporta and the Barca board have scheduled a meeting with Xavi this week to negotiate the terms for his return.
The report indicates the Spaniard will meet with the new president and sporting director Mateu Alemany to discuss the level of responsibility he will have at the club and transfer plans for next season should he join before a contract is agreed.
It is also indicated that the future of superstar Lionel Messi could be a determinant of whether Xavi decides to move on from Al-Sadd, with the Argentine’s contract expiring in June with no new deal currently in place.
Xavi has long been touted as the future coach at the Nou Camp after a successful start to life in management following his appointment as the Qatari outfit’s manager in 2019.
The 41-year-old won the Double this season with the Qatar Stars League and the Qatar Cup, building on his success from the first two campaigns. Last year he won the Qatar Cup and the Qatar Stars Cup, with a Qatari Super Cup triumph coming in 2019.
Sportsmail reported this week that Xavi was Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s first choice to replace current boss Ronald Koeman, with the club supremo yet to back him as the man to lead them into next season.
Current boss Koeman’s future is in doubt with Barca’s hopes of winning the La Liga title now over.
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