Barcelona

Josep Maria Bartomeu tips Xavi to manage Barcelona

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 21 July 2017

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu backs club legend Xavi, who is currently with Al Sadd in Qatar, to manage the Spanish giants in the future.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has backed club legend Xavi to manage the Spanish giants in the future.

Xavi, 37, represented Barca between 1991 and 2015, making 767 appearances in all competitions for the Catalan outfit, landing eight La Liga titles, three Copas del Rey and four Champions League crowns during his time at the club.

The midfielder left Camp Nou to link up with Al Sadd in 2015, and the former Spain international is currently combining playing and coaching duties in Qatar.

Former Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde has only just been appointed Barcelona's new manager following the departure of Luis Enrique, but Bartomeu has tipped Xavi to one day lead the club.

"He's right now not only playing, he's also learning as a coach. So of course one day Xavi will be one of the coaches of the club," Bartomeu told reporters. "I don't know which team of ours, but of course with the objective of one day coaching our first team."

Xavi has scored 13 times in 56 appearances for Al Sadd over the last two seasons.