Xavi confirms he turned down Barcelona job

Xavi confirms he turned down Barcelona job

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi has revealed that he rejected an offer to replace Ernesto Valverde in the Camp Nou dugout.

Valverde was sacked by the Catalan giants in January following a poor run of form, with Quique Setien now in charge of the La Liga table-toppers.

Despite his status as a club legend, Xavi, who is the current manager of Qatari side Al Sadd, believes that he needs more managerial experience before returning to Camp Nou.

Speaking to former teammate Samuel Eto'o on Instagram, Xavi said: "In January, it wasn't the right moment. I had conversations with [Eric] Abidal and [Oscar] Grau and a big offer, but it wasn't the right moment.

"I need a bit more experience. Coaching Barcelona is my dream. I'd like to do it one day. I've said that many times."

Xavi amassed a total of 85 goals from 767 appearances for Barca, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with La Blaugrana.

Share this article:
Subscribe to our newsletter

Get FREE daily news and in-depth previews for games from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football — straight to your inbox.

Subscribe