Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez is reportedly on his way out of Camp Nou with a deal from Qatar side Al Sadd said to be tempting the playmaking midfielder.
Xavi, who has won two Champions Leagues, seven La Liga titles, six Spanish SuperCopas, two Copas del Rey, two World Club Cups and two European Super Cup during his time in Barcelona, is reportedly close to signing with the Qatar-based side alongside Newcastle's French winger Hatem Ben Arfa. Ben Arfa has never fulfilled his potential and fell out of favour near the end of last season with manager Alan Pardew.
Al Sadd are losing former Real Madrid hitman Raul after the Spanish striker played out a lucrative one-year deal in Qatar. Raul is being tempted by a move to the New York Cosmos.
Xavi is currently representing his national side in Brazil during the World Cup and has spoken to incoming manager, Luis Enrique, and he says he wants to freshen the midfield area up for the new season.. This could mean many familiar faces leaving Barcelona during the summer transfer window, with a particular aging group of players looking more vulnerable than most.
Barcelona have already announced the signing of Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla and it appears Xavi is ready to call time on his career at the Camp Nou, having graduated from the legendary La Masia as a child.
Xavi is the oldest La Masia graduate still currently in the side with Carlos Puyol announcing his retiremenet at the end of a tiring 2013/14 campaign. Victor Valdes has already announced his intention to leave with the refusal to sign a new contract and many other high profile players have also been linked with moves away.
Xavi is mostly concerned with the World Cup at the moment, as it is sure the be the thirty-four year-old's last involvement but he and his teammates must fight an uphill battle after losing to the Netherlands 5-1 in the opening group game on Friday night.
Barcelona are not the only team facing an identity crisis, and if Spain can't invent two victories from their remaining two games, a lot of the responsibility might lay with it's older, more experienced players. Xavi will certainly be at the forefront of criticism thrown Spain's way if they fail at the World Cup, similar to his most recent season in Barcelona.
Xavi has made a career inventing chances and unlikely goals and it appears he will remain doing so on a different continent next year. A move to Qatar could well be the move that prolongs the legendary Spaniard's career.