Xavi confirmed as new Barcelona manager

Barcelona have finally confirmed that legendary former midfielder Xavi has returned to Camp Nou as their new manager.

The club had been keen to reunite with Xavi for years and stepped up that interest after sacking Ronald Koeman back in October, and an agreement with the 41-year-old was reached fairly quickly.

Al-Sadd even claimed that Barcelona had agreed to pay Xavi's release clause, only for the Catalan side to deny those claims and continue to search for an agreement.

We got there in the end and Xavi was seen saying his goodbyes to his colleagues at Al-Sadd, with Barcelona now confirming that they have struck a deal to bring Xavi back in on a two-and-a-half year contract.

"It wasn’t goodbye. It was see you soon," Xavi said. "Camp Nou has always been my home. You're my fans, my people, the club that I love the most.

"And now, I'm coming home. See you soon, Culers."

Xavi's first game in charge of the club will come after the international break when Barcelona host Espanyol at Camp Nou on November 2020.

It promises to be an emotional affair for both Xavi and the supporters. A product of the La Masia academy, Xavi managed a whopping 767 appearances for his boyhood club across 17 years.

He returns to find Barcelona down in ninth in the La Liga standings, with league leaders Real Sociedad nine points ahead.