Xavi on Barcelona interest: I'm focused on Al-Sadd

Spanish coach refused to be drawn on speculation linking him to Barcelona job

Ronald Koeman's exit from Barcelona was not exactly a surprise, but the man who is likely to replace him is with Xavi Hernandez seen as the early favourite to take over, although the man himself was unwilling to be drawn on such speculation, suggesting his only focus was on Al-Sadd.

Xavi met with the leaders of the Qatar club on Thursday, intimating his desire to taken the newly vacant job at the Camp Nou, and the meeting went well with the Al-Sadd board making clear they would allow him to leave for a buyout fee.

The negotiating of that fee isn't thought to be a problem, although the Qatari club are determined to keep him until after November 3, which would prevent him from taking charge of Los Cules' Champions League meeting with Dynamo Kiev.

"I'm focused on my work with Al-Sadd," Xavi explained in a press conference. "I cannot talk about anything else."

Check out the best matches vip soccer tips

From the start of the international break, Xavi would be free to make concrete his agreement with the Catalan giants and officially take charge, and it's expected that negotiations will be closed in the coming days.

There is goodwill to make this move happen from all parties, with Al-Sadd having previously said they wouldn't stand in the Spaniard's way of returning to his former club, when there was rumours that Ronald Koeman would be fired in the summer.

Al-Sadd have two more matches in the Qatar Stars League before November 3, with a home game against Al-Ahli set to take place on October 30 and then an away trip to face Al-Duhail on November 3 itself.

His time coaching the Qatari team has been nothing short of sensational, setting a record for 34 league games unbeaten as well as lifting the Qatar Stars League, two Qatar Cups, the Qatari Super Cup and two Emir of Qatar cups.

Latest match here best football tips