Barcelona's Xavi waiting to make final decision on move to NYCFC
Xavi has decided to postpone making a final call on his future in order to concentrate on Barcelona's crucial run-in, with a summer transfer to New York City FC looking increasingly unlikely.
The 35-year-old was convinced to stay with the Blaugrana ahead of the 2014-15 campaign by new coach Luis Enrique having originally told close friends that he would join the newly formed MLS club, and is set to make his 750th appearance for the Catalans on Saturday at Eibar.
However, he has yet to decide whether he will remain at Camp Nou beyond the summer, despite having a contract which runs until June 2016, with the USA and Qatar again being touted as possible destinations.
Given that Barcelona will be unable to sign any new players this summer under the terms of its penalty for illegally signing young foreign players, it is expected that Xavi will stay on until January 2016. Such a scenario would give Barca the benefit of maintaining his experienced input until the next winter transfer window while the player himself would still be free to leave before the 2016 MLS season.
Enrique is said to be keen to hold on to Xavi since there is a great deal of mutual respect between the two men, and the former Roma boss sees his club captain as the ideal man to pass on his wealth of knowledge to the younger players in the Barcelona squad. Xavi also worked as a peacemaker in the dressing room when the coach had his differences with Lionel Messi earlier this season.
Xavi's near future remains in Barcelona, but he has also expressed an interest in having a longer-term role with the club. In an interview this week the midfielder said that he envisages a tilt as Barca boss at some stage, but since he still feels he has something to offer as a player it is likely to be in New York City rather than Barcelona that he ends his career.
The good news for Barca fans, though, is that his move to the Big Apple is unlikely to happen before January 2016.
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