Xavi destined to trod Guardiola's path to managerial stardom after Qatar switch

Whisper it quietly for Barcelona fans won’t want to hear what is rapidly becoming a reality.

Xavi Hernandez, the footballer’s footballer and the best midfielder of a generation or perhaps ever, is ready to pack up his boots and jump on the plane to Qatar.

What makes the news that much harder to bear for fans of the Blaugrana is that it comes hot on the heels of the departure of two other La Masia stalwarts, Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol. Three of Barca’s four captains gone in the blink of an eye.

It leaves a massive hole to fill through the spine of the team and maybe Bob Dylan will pitch up at Camp Nou any second now because “The times, they are a-changing.”

As integral to Barca’s success as he’s been over the years, there’s no denying that Xavi’s influence is very definitely on the wane and a move not only makes sense for all parties, but it’s absolutely necessary.

Only 4 goals and 5 assists in all competitions last season is a fair indicator that, despite his phenomenal passing stats, he isn’t decisive enough anymore in the final third. By way of comparison, Barca’s new midfield purchase Ivan Rakitic scored 13 and assisted 12 during the same period.

[RELATED: Xavi set to swap Barcelona for Qatar's Al-Arabi]

Time waits for no man but let’s be honest, it would be a very sad end for this most immaculate exponent of the beautiful game to play on for another year to 18 months, only to become a burden on the club he has served so wonderfully for the last 16 years.

In any event, those supporters still hanging on to the belief that Xavi’s departure is just scurrilous media waffle are in for a shock.

Xavi's agent, Ivan Corrretja has already held a meeting with Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, during which it was decided to release the player two years before his contract with Barcelona is due to end.

And former Chelsea player, now coach of Qatar outfit Al-Arabi SC Dan Petrescu, confirmed via Romanian TV channel ‘Digisport’ that Xavi has a two-year deal with his club, the option of a further two seasons, and a take-home salary of between eight and 10 million euros per year:

“Xavi has signed a pre-contract with Al-Arabi even though he has received offers from other clubs. I personally contacted him about him joining us […] He’s an extraordinary guy, he seems very sensible – all of the great players are usually very modest, unassuming people.

We are sounding out a number of top players who are currently with their respective national sides at the World Cup but I can’t disclose any names at the moment. We do want Xavi and we have proposed a salary of eight million euros per season.”

[RELATED: Where now for Spain and tiki-taka after humiliating World Cup?]

Once the deal is confirmed, post-World Cup, it will be interesting to note just how much of a backlash there will be toward Bartomeu and Zubizaretta who have never been top of the popularity stakes as far as Barca’s socios are concerned.

It would be easy to wrongly apportion blame of course, because the fact remains that actually it’s Luis Enrique calling the shots and looking for dynamism and incisiveness from his midfield. It’s precisely why Rafinha has returned from his loan spell at Celta Vigo and why Rakitic has been brought in from Sevilla.

The time is right for a more aggressive evolution of Barca’s first team squad if the Catalans genuinely desire to get back to somewhere near the form of 3-4 years ago, and Xavi deserves to be afforded appropriate respect from the fans if his wish is that he doesn’t intend to become a bit-part player in Enrique’s brave new dawn.

He isn’t the first and won’t be the last to tread a path to the Middle East either.

Former team-mate and ex-Barca manager Pep Guardiola joined Al-Ahli for a stint in the Qatar Stars League way back in 2003, at the same time as former Real Madrid defensive lynhcpin Fernando Hierro tried his luck at Al-Rayyan.

At the time Pep had rejected an offer from Manchester United to play alongside players such as Argentina’s Gabriel Batistuta, and whilst the financial pull of a tax-free haven was (and still is) obvious, so was the relaxed lifestyle.

Indeed, so enamored was he by his time in Qatar that Guardiola became an important figurehead in their (now hugely controversial) bid to host the 2022 World Cup:

“I believe this is a truly unique bid, and a wonderful opportunity to spread the magic and the benefits of the world’s favourite game across the globe.”

Having played in Qatar myself between 2003 and 2005, and having grown to love the country and greatly appreciate Qatar’s football development and infrastructure investment, I believe the time is ripe for the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East.

My experience in Qatar, as well as the outstanding organisation and football passion we witnessed in the UAE during the Clubs World Cup, makes me confident that Qatar and the Middle East can host a spectacular, passionate and unforgettable World Cup that embraces all the FIFA ideals.”

As endorsements go Qatar couldn’t have asked for any more, and his willingness to embrace Qatar Foundation as Barcelona’s first-ever commercial shirt sponsors, was seen as another high-profile acknowledgement of the region.

Another Real Madrid legend Raul, who spent a similar period of time at Los Blancos as Xavi has at the Catalans, ended up at Al Sadd via a brief sojourn at Schalke04 in Germany.

Arriving in Qatar in 2012, Raul remains on a salary of around £191,000-a-week tax free, with less pressure and more time to spend at home. It made his own move there a no brainer:

“I enjoy my life in Qatar. I played for 19 years in Europe, 17 years with Real Madrid then two in Germany with Schalke 04, and now I am focusing more on the quality of life and on spending more time with my family.

My family and I are enjoying our stay in here and at the same time, I continue to play football.”

It really will be the perfect sunset to Xavi’s glittering playing career and will allow him some time away from the rigours of football at the very highest level.

Time he can use to recharge his batteries before returning to Barcelona in a few years as manager.