Xavi reveals 'contact' with new Barcelona president Joan Laporta
By Tom Gott
Al-Sadd manager Xavi has revealed that he has been speaking to new Barcelona president Joan Laporta after he won the club elections earlier this month.
Since the day Xavi stepped into management with the Qatari side, he has been incessantly linked with a return to the Camp Nou dugout. Victor Font, one of the unsuccessful presidential candidates, spoke openly of his conversations with Xavi and planned to bring him in as manager sooner rather than later.
Xavi himself stayed quiet about the whole thing, not because he was not interested, but because he did not want to attach himself to one candidate as he maintained close relationships with everyone in the running.
He spoke about his bond with Laporta in an interview with beIN SPORTS, revealing: "He is the best president I ever had.
"Laporta is a good friend. I know him very well, he will do the best for Barca. He is a good president. In my opinion, the best president I have ever had, so he will get Barcelona back, both on the pitch and financially.
"There are many issues to resolve but Laporta can fix everything. We are in contact. I am very happy for him."
Laporta is currently considering all his options when it comes to the club's next manager. It is thought that current boss Ronald Koeman might have to win the La Liga title to save his job, with the new president keen to make a real statement by hiring a new boss this summer.
RB Leipzig's Julian Nagelsmann is rumoured to be one of his top targets, while Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Leicester City's Brendan Rodgers have even been discussed, but Xavi's name is one that will never be taken off the table.
Xavi recently led Al-Sadd to the Stars League title with an unbeaten season, but his contract at the club expires this summer and he is yet to pen an extension.
It is thought that he would be more than happy to stay in Qatar, but with the wave of changes that is about to his Camp Nou, he may just hold off on putting pen to paper.