SPORT travels with Xavi back to Barcelona

SPORT travels with Xavi back to Barcelona

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The Catalan midfield legend is returning to the club as Barca's coach

Xavi Hernandez is now Barcelona’s new coach. The agreement came later than expected because Al Sadd wanted his release clause to be paid and Barcelona had to look for formulas to do that, given their financial situation. He comes back to Barcelona accompanied by SPORT. We were in Doha following the negotiations.

The flight QR045 left the airport at 7.45am and is expected to land in Barcelona at 12.40 midday. Seven hours, and taking his family with him. His wife Nuria Cunillera, his daughter Asia and son Dan. The four will no longer need to return to Doha because they have finished the paperwork they needed to. His brother and assistant at Al Sadd, Oscar Hernandez goes too, but without his family. His wife Monica and their children stay in Doha because they are at school age and will finish the term in December.

Xavi is also bringing Sergi Alegre, the other assistant, fitness coach Ivan Torres and three analysts, David Prats, Toni Lobo and Sergio Garcia. Physio Carlos Nogueira also comes. Some of them are not bringing their families either, for the same reason as Oscar.

On Monday, Xavi will be presented officially, and in theory on Tuesday he will start coaching. A frantic week ends, the soap opera is over. The new Barça begins.

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