Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Barcelona's Xavi denies Al-Sadd transfer reports

Xavi Hernandez has denied that his trip to Qatar this week was to sign a contract to join local club Al Sadd next summer.

Xavi's visit to the Gulf State was accompanied by widespread reports that he was set to pen a three-year deal with Qatari club, over which he would be paid €10 million per annum.

The arrangement was reportedly similar to that which saw former Real Madrid and current New York Cosmos star Raul spend 2012-2014 at Al Sadd, while also studying for his coaching licences at Qatar's Aspire Academy.

Met by reporters on his return to Barcelona's El Prat airport, the veteran playmaker said he had just been "visiting" the country, while suggesting he might have further news to tell down the line.

"I was just visiting, I was just visiting," Xavi said. "When I am ready to talk about it I will let you know."

Xavi was close to leaving Barca last summer, with moves to Qatar and the United States mooted, before he eventually decided to stay and play a squad-player role at the Camp Nou this season.

More recently it has been reported that New York City will make another effort to bring the World Cup 2010 winner to the US when the current La Liga season ends.

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