Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez says his "primary goal" remains to coach the Spanish giants, but is focused on his current job of managing Qatari club Al-Sadd.
"I do not hide, and I have always said, that my primary goal, when it happens, is Barca. It's my home and would be a dream," Xavi told Marca, adding he was "fine" after testing positive for coronavirus.
"But now I am focused on Al-Sadd, excited about the new season. When Barca comes, in the short or long term, it will come," Xavi said while emphasising he does not want to destabilise the current management under Quique Setien.
"Above all, we have to respect Quique Setien and I wish the team all the best," he said. "Sometimes Barca plays very well, sometimes well, and sometimes not so well. But I like Setien's idea, now and with his previous teams: to dominate and to make a beautiful game."
Xavi's name has come up repeatedly as a replacement for Setien, but club president Josep Maria Bartomeu insists he is sticking with his current manager.
"I have an excellent relationship with Xavi and we talked about many issues. But next year Quique Setien has a contract and he is the one we hired," Bartomeu told Barcelona-based Mundo Deportivo on Sunday.
Xavi has been quarantined after revealing he has contracted Covid-19.
"I feel good, although isolated, logically. And I'm looking forward to training soon," he said.
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Every season of Messi as he wins La Liga golden boot for seventh time
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Lionel Messi is set to leave Barcelona after 20 years of winning silverware and setting records. Here are his stats, season by season. -
2004/05 - Barcelona - La Liga: 7 apps; 1 goal. All competitions: 9 apps; 1 goal. -
2005/06 - Barcelona - La Liga: 17 apps; 6 goals. All competitions: 26 apps; 8 goals. Trophies: La Liga, Champions League. -
2006/07 - Barcelona - La Liga: 26 apps; 14 goals. All competitions: 36 apps; 17 goals. Trophies: Spanish Super Cup. -
2007/08 - Barcelona - La Liga: 28 apps; 10 goals. All competitions: 40 apps; 16 goals. Trophies 0. -
2008/09 - Barcelona - La Liga: 31 apps; 23 goals. All competitions: 51 apps; 38 goals. Trophies: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Uefa Champions League. -
2009/10 - Barcelona - La Liga: 35 apps; 34 goals - top scorer. All competitions: 53 apps; 47 goals. Trophies: Spanish Super Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup, Ballon d'Or, La Liga. -
2010/11 - Barcelona - La Liga: 33 apps; 31 goals. All competitions: 55 apps; 53 goals. Trophies: Spanish Super Cup, Ballon d'Or, La Liga, Uefa Champions League. -
2011/12 - Barcelona - La Liga: 37 apps; 50 goals - top scorer. All competitions: 60 apps; 73 goals. Trophies: Spanish Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup, Ballon d'Or, Copa del Rey. -
2012/13 - Barcelona - La Liga: 32 apps; 46 goals - top scorer. All competitions: 50 apps; 60 goals. Trophies: La Liga. -
2013/14 - La Liga: 31 apps; 28 goals - top scorer. All competitions: 46 apps; 41 goals. Trophies: Spanish Super Cup. -
2014/15 - Barcelona - La Liga: 38 apps; 43 goals. All competitions: 57 apps; 58 goals. Trophies: Copa del Rey, La Liga, Uefa Champions League. -
2015/16 - Barcelona - La Liga: 33 apps; 26 goals. All competitions: 49 apps; 41 goals. Trophies: Uefa Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup, Ballon d'Or, Copa del Rey, La Liga. -
2016/17 - Barcelona - La Liga: 34 apps; 37 goals - top scorer. All competitions: 52 apps; 54 goals. Trophies: Spanish Super Cup, Copa del Rey. -
2017/18 - Barcelona - La Liga: 36 apps; 34 goals - top scorer. All competitions: 54 apps; 45 goals. Trophies: Copa del Rey, La Liga. -
2018/19 - Barcelona - La Liga: 34 apps; 36 goals - top scorer. All competitions: 50 apps; 51 goals. Trophies: Spanish Super Cup, La Liga -
2019/20 - Barcelona - La Liga: 33 apps; 25 goals - top scorer. All competitions: 44 apps; 31 goals. -
2020/21 - Barcelona - La Liga 35 appearances, 30 goals - top scorer. All competitions: 47 apps, 38 goals. Trophy: Copa del Rey
