DOHA: Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez was officially unveiled by Al Sadd on Thursday and said he was “proud” to now be playing for the Qatari side.
Just five days after Barcelona’s Champions League triumph against Juventus, which sealed a treble for the Spanish giants, Xavi was paraded at a packed press conference in Doha.
The midfielder has signed a two-year contract, which could be extended to three years, and will play and coach as well as be an ambassador for Qatar’s troubled World Cup 2022 bid.
“I am very, very proud to be part and parcel of Al Sadd Football Club,” said the 35-year-old.
“I hope I will be able to lift all titles with this very important club and continue with my achievements,” he said.
“I would like to thank Al Sadd Sports Club and all the Qatari people.”
Watched by family and friends during the press conference, Xavi was handed and wore an unfamiliar white Al Sadd number six shirt after spending more than 20 years in the famous colors of Barcelona.
His signing is arguably the biggest ever by a Qatari side.
Xavi, Barcelona’s most decorated player of all time, was also one of the heroes of Spain’s Euro and World Cup-winning squads.
He will also be remembered as a central figure of Barcelona’s revolutionary ‘tiki-taka’ style of football, which relies on possession and passing, and helped the Catalan side to become arguably the dominant team in Europe in the first decade of the century.
He follows in the footsteps of other Spanish stars who have played in Qatar including Real Madrid forward Raul who played 39 games for Al Sadd.
Xavi said he would like to end his career in Qatar and then go on to coach.
He did not rule out returning to Spain as a coach.
“I would like to continue as a coach, after that I will see what happens.”
’Proud’ Xavi unveiled by Qatar’s Al Sadd
’Proud’ Xavi unveiled by Qatar’s Al Sadd
Australia rest Cummins, Hazlewood, Maxwell for Pakistan T20 series
- Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis will also skip the series starting later this month
- Australia will play Pakistan in Lahore on Jan. 29, 31 and Feb. 1, before traveling to Sri Lanka
MELBOURNE: Australia will rest five top players, including Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell, for a three-match Twenty20 series in Pakistan ahead of the World Cup, selectors said Monday.
Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis will also skip the series starting later this month.
Their absence opened the door to fringe players Sean Abbott, Mahli Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mitch Owen, Josh Phillippe and Matt Renshaw, who come into the 17-man squad.
Chief selector George Bailey said the five were either returning from injury or having their loads managed ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka which begin on February 7.
“The series is a great opportunity for those on the brink of selection and some young players we rate highly for valuable experience,” he added.
“Some are already experienced international players, along with Mahli Beardman who has been with the group a number of times, and Jack Edwards who joined for the last one-day match against India in Sydney last year.”
Australia will play Pakistan in Lahore on January 29, 31 and February 1, before traveling to Sri Lanka where they are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
