Xavi will make a decision on retirement within the next month
The midfielder is weighing up what to do this month
Meanwhile, he's extended his deal with the Qatar World Cup
Xavi Hernández has given himself a month to decide if he will retire or if he will continue for another season.
At 38, the midfielder is still a regular for Al Sadd in Qatar and plays in all their games thanks to his talent and the fact that injuries have respected him.
His physical condition is the crux of the matter because the idea of hanging his boots upafter 20 years as a professional (he debuted in 1998) does not appeal to him, but he doesn't want to rush the decision. He will take this month to decide, during which time how his body feels will help him make up his mind.
The decision has other factors, too: the poor planning of the schedule between the domestic competition in Qatar and the Asian Champions League. The Emir Cup closes the Qatar season in May but the Champions League continues until December.
If Al Sadd advance in the competition and in May are still in it, Xavi will continue to play until the are knocked out or until they win the tournament, which would qualify them for FIFA's Club World Cup. In that case, he would play until at least December.
The Qatari government have offered him the chance to keep playing until he wants to and so far the sensations are really good.
The high spheres of Qatar want him to remain linked to the country once he ends his playing days. They want him to take his first steps as a coach there.
Xavi is happy and adapted in Qatar, a country which has welcomed him with open arms and taken to his way of understanding football. He has not ruled out giving it one more season alongside taking his coaching badges.
This week he renewed his contract for another year to continue as the image for the World Cup in the country in 2022. The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy proposed extending the deal and he accepted the idea.
