Xavi says he was called to be Tite’s assistant and take over the national team after the Cup

Introduced this Monday (8) as Barcelona’s new coach, Xavier Hernández, 41, said he recently received a proposal from the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) to be Tite’s assistant and, after the World Cup in Qatar, in 2022 , take charge of the Brazilian team.

The ex-wheel said he refused the offer as he was already thinking of taking over the Catalan team in a future opportunity.

“It’s true that they offered me. First, I would be Tite’s assistant, after the Cup I would take over the national team. But my idea was to come to Barça,” said Xavi.

Since Brazil’s defeat by Argentina in the final of Copa América, in July, by 1-0, at Maracanã, the work of the Brazilian coach has been questioned more earnestly. His contract with CBF is valid until the end of 2022.

Currently, the Brazilian team leads the Qualifiers, with 31 points, and will be able to confirm its place in the Worlds in the next round, on the 11th, in São Paulo. For that, they will have to beat Colombia and hope that Uruguay doesn’t defeat Argentina in Montevideo.

Xavi has signed a contract with Barça for three seasons after arranging his departure from Al-Sadd in Qatar.

Trained in the youth categories of Barcelona, ​​he won 25 official titles wearing the team shirt, including eight cups in the Spanish Championship, four in the Champions League, two in the Club World Cup and three in the Copa del Rey.

Xavi was part of one of the most winning periods in the club’s history. He was an important player in teams that had Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Lionel Messi as great stars.

In 2015, the then midfielder left Camp Nou to play for Al-Sadd, where he stayed until he retired in 2019 and became a coach.

Back at Barcelona, ​​the coach will find a very different scenario than when he left due to a financial crisis that even led to Messi’s departure in August of this year. After a 21-year partnership between the Catalan team and the Argentine, he transferred to Paris Sain-Germain at the end of his contract.

The farewell of the idol, six times voted the best in the world, was the biggest reflection of the difficulties the club is going through for having to deal with a debt of more than 1 billion euros (R$ 6.3 billion).

“I know it’s a difficult time, both economically and sportingly, but I have the desire and enthusiasm to repay the fans’ support. I will ask the players to be demanding, because we are Barça, the best club in the world,” said Xavi.

The coach also addressed the style of play he wants to implement in the team at the press conference. “We want to be intense, aggressive, recovering the ball in the opposite field. A team that leaves its soul on the field.”