Xavi, now Santi Cazorla’s manager, tests positive for COVID 19

Barcelona legend Xavi has received a positive test for COVID-19. multiple sources report. As you probably know, he is the manager of Al Sadd, Santi Cazorla’s new club. The midfielder who has won it all for club and country says he is feeling fine, and that he is following the protocols set forth by the Qatar Super League.

Earlier this year Xavi was offered the manager position at FC Barcelona, which he turned down so that he could remain at his current post. That job ended up going to the now under fire Quique Setien. The fact that a homegrown club legend would turn down the position at Barcelona probably says a lot about the state of the club, which has seen all manner of drama and upheaval this season to coincide with a rather nonsensical transfer policy.

On the Villarreal front, it is unclear whether Cazorla has had any contact with Xavi. He missed the legends exhibit opening at the Ceramica today for ‘professional reasons’, which we can presume has to do with the transfer to Qatar that has already been announced.

Cazorla is of course not the only Villarreal connection to Al Sadd. Qatari player Akram Afif joined Villarreal from the club in 2016 for an undisclosed fee, and we sold him back for 1m earlier in the month. The whole affair was a bit of an odd one, in four years he never appeared for us.

As with all COVID-19 situations we hope that no further spread happens from this situation. We have seen recently in Spain with the outbreak at Fuenlabrada how quickly things can get out of control in a club environment, and we would hate to see that happen at Al Sadd, particularly (as it relates to our notice) with our beloved Santi headed that way.