Xavi renews Al-Sadd contract amid talk of Barcelona return

Barcelona may have to wait a little longer to hire Xavi as manager.

Despite expressing interest in coaching the Blaugrana, the 40-year-old renewed his contract with Qatari side Al-Sadd on Sunday until the end of the 2020-21 season.

Xavi has repeatedly stated he'd return to Barcelona only when the time is right.

Last week, the World Cup winner confirmed the club had approached him about the job in January, while Ernesto Valverde was still manager. The former midfielder said the "stage would be set" for his return after the club's presidential elections in June 2021, according to Reuters.

"I'm a club man," he added. "I would like to return at the right moment to start a project from zero. I've said it a lot of times but I want to take footballing decisions at Barcelona."

Having served the maximum two terms, Josep Maria Bartomeu will stand down as president next year. Joan Laporta - who held the position from 2003-10 and hired Pep Guardiola as manager - already announced his intention to run in the election.

Spanish entrepreneur Victor Font, the only other candidate in the presidential race, said he wants Xavi in charge if he wins.

In May, six directors resigned from Barcelona's board in protest of the way the club is being run. Bartomeu has also battled allegations that he hired a social media company to smear current and former players.

Xavi joined Al-Sadd as a player in 2015 and took over as manager last July, leading the club to the Qatar Super Cup and Qatar Cup.