Xavi has ended speculation that he was set to return to Barcelona by penning a one-year contract extension with Al-Sadd.
The former Barcelona captain was reported to be considered to replace under-pressure Quique Setien at Camp Nou.
The 40-year-old wants to return to coach Barcelona when the timing is right.
Xavi will now stay in Qatar for one more year, having won the Qatari Super Cup and Qatar Cup in his first season in charge.
‘’I am happy that the squad is complete today after the return of remaining first-team players, in preparation for this upcoming period and resumption of the league championship,’’ the former Spain midfielder told the club’s website.
‘’I am happy to continue with Al-Sadd, and the team’s goal will always be to compete for titles.’’
Xavi’s side sit third in the Qatar Stars League. The League will resume later this month after an interruption caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Al-Sadd are 10 points behind league leaders Al Duhail with 5 games left to play.
Xavi recently said he’ll return to Barca as coach when the timing is right. He turned down a chance to replace Ernesto Valverde in January.
‘’The biggest hope I have now is to be Barca coach and get Barca back to winning ways,’’ Said Xavi via Sport.
‘’Not me but these players and Barca are triumping. And as a consequence, our technical staff, who are preparing for it a lot and it makes us really excited.’’
Xavi won a total of 25 trophies at Camp Nou as a player.
‘’I’m a club man. I would like to return at the right moment to start a project from zero.
‘’I’ve said it a lot of times but I want to take footballing decisions at Barcelona.
‘’It’s clear that after the elections the stage would be set, of course. I’m not ruling anything out.
‘’They came for me in January, we were speaking. I told them the circumstances and timing weren’t right.’’
Xavi left Barcelona in 2015 after making 505 appearances for the club. He joined Al-Sadd as a player before taking charge in 2019.
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Xavi preparing to return to Barcelona as coach
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