Goodbye Xavi !!!
Xavi Hernández, FC Barcelona's most decorated and longest serving player, has announced he will leave the Catalan club after
17 years of service.
Xavi, 35, would also work with Qatar’s Aspire Academy, become an ambassador for the 2022 World Cup to be held in the Gulf state, which is one of Barcelona’s main sponsors, and aim to start his coaching qualifications, his agent, Ivan Corretja, told Reuters.
Xavi has signed a deal believed to be worth €10 million per season for the next three years, and has an option for a fourth.
That's a staggeringly high wage number, and likely not one that anyone else was willing to match, despite significant rumors of interest from New York City FC of MLS.
Xavi be filling a hole in Al Sadd's roster left by Raul, the Real Madrid legend who spent two seasons with Al Sadd before departing for America last fall to sign for the New York Cosmos.
Xavi Hernández's shirt during their 2014/15 UEFA Champions League campaign, during which he became the first player to reach 150 appearances in the competition
Special football shirts for FC Barcelona Xavi
The FC Barcelona today revealed a special Barcelona, Football shirts 14-15 for use by the team in the past never match Xavi Liga at home to Deportivo La Coruna.
XAVI HERNANDEZ
Age: 35
Debut: vs. Mallorca, Aug. 18, 1998
Games: 506
Goals: 58
Assists: 97
Honours: Champions League (3), Super Cup (2), Club World Cup (2), La Liga (8), Copa del Rey (2), Spanish Super Cup (6); World Cup 2010; European Championship 2008, 2012.
Xavi's trophy haul
3 x UEFA Champions League (2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11)
2 x UEFA Super Cup (2009, 2011)
2 x FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2011)
8 x Liga (1998/99, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2014/15)
2 x Copa del Rey (2008/09, 2011/12)
6 x Spanish Super Cup (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)
1 x FIFA World Cup (2010)
2 x UEFA European Championship (2008, 2012)