Fujairah pave the way to bring Barcelona legend Xavi to the UAE

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Wanted man: Barcelona legend Xavi could play in the Arabian Gulf League.

    Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi could be starring in the Arabian Gulf League this season, after newly-promoted Fujairah began attempts to hijack existing bids for the midfielder.

    Xavi, 34, is believed to be in the process of negotiating a pay-off from the Catalan giants, ending a 23-year association with the club, establishing a reputation as one of the greatest central midfielders in history.

    With a press conference expect­ed this week to announce the 2010 World Cup winner’s exit, Fujairah contacted intermediaries on Mon­day to ascertain whether the player would be prepared to make the switch to the UAE.

    Fujairah are mulling over wheth­er to proceed with the transfer, meaning they are yet to make an official offer, but have not been dis­couraged by the initial contact.

    Xavi has been heavily courted by Manchester City’s sister club in Major League Soccer, New York City, as well as several sides from Qatar, while there is also the remote prospect of him remaining at Barcelona for one more season.

    NYC remain favourites to secure the stylish midfielder as one of their three designated play­ers – joining ex-Barca and Spain team-mate David Villa plus former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard ahead of their entry into the United States’ elite competition next year.

    However, a stumbling block could be that the salary they are willing to pay is worth a lot less than the 8million EUR per year (Dh39.6m) tax free their Qatari rivals offered at the start of the summer.

    Fujairah have been made aware of his wage demands, which stand at approximately ¤6m per year (Dh29.8m) without tax, to make the switch to the UAE.

    One potential obstacle is that while a move to a Dubai-based out­fit would strongly appeal to Xavi, he would be less familiar with what the eastern emirate has to offer.

    The Catalan was in the UAE as recently as last December, attend­ing the Dubai International Sports Conference alongside Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo where he received a Globe Soccer career award.

    If Fujairah’s chase was to prove successful, it would see one of football’s all-time greats spending the final years of his trophy-laden career in the Emirates.

    Xavi joined Barcelona aged 11, making a club-record 822 ap­pearances since making his de­but with the first team in 1998 and becoming the most decorated player in the Nou Camp outfit’s history. His incredible collection includes two Club World Cups, three Champions Leagues, two Eu­ropean Super Cups, seven La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey wins and six Spanish Super Cups.

    His success has been replicated on the international stage, gain­ing 133 caps and playing a pivotal role in the triumphs at Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012.

    Valdivia deal in doubt

    The move for Xavi follows claims that Fujairah may not actually have officially sealed the much-pub­licised captured of Chilean play­maker Jorge Valdivia from Brazil’s Palmeiras, amid strong interest from AGL champions Al Ahli.

    Pictures of the 30-year-old meet­ing dignitaries from Fujairah cir­culated on Twitter on Friday, with him holding aloft the shirt of his supposed new team.

    Valdivia informed Fujairah that he had to travel back to Brazil because of health problems with his wife.

    This may have left the door open for rival bids, with coach Cosmin Olaroiu keen on trying to bring Val­divia to the Rashid Stadium.

    The pursuit of Valdivia is bad news for countryman Luis Jimen­ez, with the Red Knights looking to move him on if their pursuit of the former is a success.

    Recommended