It's one step closer to Barcelona for Xavi as the club's sporting director, Muhammad Ghulam Al Balushi, director deportivo del Al Sadd, confirmed on television station, AlKass, that there has been contact and negotiations between Xavi and his former club.

"There are negotiations between Xavi and Barcelona now and we wish him well wherever he wants to go," he said ahead of the club's Qatar Cup semifinal between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan.

The statement from the director confirms the clubs comment on their current manager when news of Barcelona interested first surfaced. The general manager, Turki Al Ali, has asked that the LaLiga side negotiate officially with Al Sadd.

The possibility that Xavi takes charge of Barcelona and starts next week are gathering pace. Eric Abidal, the club's sporting director, and Oscar Grau, the CEO, went to Doha on Saturday to meet with Xavi in an effort to convince him to come and take over the club.

Ernesto Valverde's stock fell to an all-time low after defeat to Atlético Madrid during the week in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final despite leading 2-1 in the second half. The collapses against Roma and Liverpool continue to haunt the manager as their away form remains abysmal. This year was believed to be Valverde's class regardless of what happened but the loss to Atlético seems to have expediated the process of removing the manager.