The Incorporation of Xavi Hernández at Barcelona
Xavi Hernandez's appointment as technical director is not the only new member joining Barcelona this season. The Catalan board believes that the team needs reinforcements in certain areas, with the defensive system being one of them and with urgency. That is why they are seriously considering incorporating a midfielder from Serie A in January next year.
This midfielder is Senegalese player Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli, who has been having very good seasons in Calcio and was already on Real Madrid's radar.
In 2019, Florentino Pérez and company showed interest in him, but his high salary at that time prevented his arrival at the 'Casa Blanca'. Now, at the age of 30 and with one more year on his contract (until June 2023) with Napoli, an agreement that the African player, after 7 seasons, does not wish to renew.
Thus, the Italian board is obliged to sell him in the next transfer market so as not to let him go without any profit. This is where Barcelona comes in, whose board sees Koulibaly as the right man for their midfield.
According to transfer rumors, Napoli values their player at $34 million and is willing to negotiate his transfer in the European winter transfer market, which begins in January 2022.
When does Xavi Hernández assume his position at Barcelona?
The former Barcelona champion has to resolve his contract with Al-Sadd in Qatar, with whom he has 2 more years left on his contract, and after that, he will travel to Catalonia. In Barcelona, they believe that by expediting the process, Xavi will be available for the next La Liga match, which will be held on the weekend before the FIFA break.