Xavi Hernández still hasn't found a team since he left Barça's bench in 2024. The Catalan coach hoped to resume his career quickly, but reality has been very different from what he imagined. Over the past few months, he has been linked with European clubs, Asian national teams, and even more exotic destinations.
The problem isn't a lack of interest, but rather the type of conditions Xavi puts on the table. His market value remains high, as do his salary expectations, which complicates any negotiation. The most striking thing, however, has been his recent attempt to land in an unusual destination.
The news has come to light thanks to the local outlet "Times of India," which has revealed surprising details. According to the aforementioned outlet, Xavi reportedly sent his résumé directly from his personal email to the national soccer governing body. His intention was to apply as the new national team coach and thus relaunch his career on the sidelines.
A personal email and an unexpected proposal
This gesture has strongly caught the attention of specialized media, who see in this action a sign of urgency. Not only because of the way he did it, but also because he didn't have an agent involved in this process. The most curious thing is that, in the email sent, there wasn't even a contact phone number included.
The All India Football Federation has confirmed that Xavi Hernández's name appeared among the candidates for the position. Subrata Paul, the organization's technical director, stated that his candidacy was indeed considered at first. But it was ultimately rejected for a compelling reason: the salary he requested was absolutely unaffordable.
Although his experience and media profile were viewed positively, the financial terms ruled him out from the start. The federation didn't even begin formal negotiations with him for that reason. In addition, the federation itself expressed some surprise at his lack of knowledge of the local context.
A career on hold and more and more questions
Xavi had recently stated in an interview with The Athletic that he followed the local league with interest. In fact, he highlighted that several Spanish coaches had worked in that country with relative success. However, his proposal has turned out to be unfeasible even for one of Asia's emerging federations.
Since he left Barça, Xavi has been waiting for an opportunity that motivates and suits him. With each passing month, his return to the elite of international soccer becomes more complicated. At 45 years old, he still has a long way to go as a coach, although the current market doesn't seem willing to wait.
His record as a player is impeccable, but as a coach his results have been more inconsistent. At Barça he couldn't achieve continuity, and his time in Qatar was more formative than successful in terms of competition. That makes top-level clubs view his arrival with caution.
The future is uncertain, but the ambition remains intact
Meanwhile, his inner circle admits that options in America and in lower-profile leagues are being considered. However, Xavi wants to keep a certain status, and that makes things much more complicated. He doesn't want to rush, nor does he wish to accept offers below his professional and financial expectations.
This unexpected offer makes one thing clear: Xavi is willing to reinvent himself in order to return to the scene. Even if that means exploring paths he hadn't considered before, such as coaching an emerging national team far from the European spotlight. His ambition is real, but so are his demands, and for now that balance hasn't appeared.
In modern soccer, benches are quickly filled by coaches with immediate results or low-cost projects. Xavi finds himself in no man's land: too expensive for emerging national teams, too inexperienced for big clubs. For now, India has been the latest country to say no to him.