FC Barcelona

Barcelona icon Xavi has confirmed he held talks with the club recently and has said it is his "dream" to take charge at the Camp Nou in the future.

Xavi, who is the head coach of Al Sadd, has been strongly linked with the position of late, with the role's incumbent, Ernesto Valverde, coming under increased pressure.

Rumours surfaced that Barcelona officials recently held talks with Xavi about taking over at the club, which the four-time UEFA Champions League winner on Saturday revealed did take place. However, he added he is focused on his current team, per Sky Sports:

"I cannot say anything, they were here to talk to me and we discussed many things. Sorry I cannot give any more information.

"I cannot hide it's my dream to coach Barcelona, I've said it many times in many interviews, everyone knows I support Barcelona from the bottom of my heart. But I'm doing my job here, I'm doing my best. I was focused on the semi-final and now I'm focusing on the final."

Xavi was speaking after Al Sadd beat Al Rayyan on Saturday to progress to the final of the Qatar Crown Prince Cup.

Per The Spanish Football Podcast, speculation is beginning to ramp up over the possibility of Xavi taking charge of the Blaugrana immediately:

Tomorrow's ️ frontpages in Barcelona...

Mundo Deportivo: "Xavi now"
Sport: "Valverde doomed... and Xavi decides today!" pic.twitter.com/k7npkTP8fx

— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) January 11, 2020

While Valverde has won back-to-back league titles in his two full seasons in charge of the club, he's not a popular figure with the the fanbase.

The team has struggled to play with any identity under his guidance and frequently depend on pieces of magic from Lionel Messi to pull them out of trouble. Barcelona also collapsed in the knockout stages of the past two Champions League tournaments, suffering embarrassing eliminations to Roma and Liverpool.

The pressure on Valverde was ramped up again when Barcelona were knocked out of the Spanish Super Cup by Atletico Madrid on Thursday. Football writer Andy West thinks the coach has been on borrowed time for a while:

Problem is...it's been obvious since Anfield that Valverde is running on empty. But by not replacing him in the summer, there's now a real lack of options to take over now if the board finally makes the change (which I'm far from convinced they will). Who is available?

— Andy West (@andywest01) January 10, 2020

Xavi would be a popular appointment as Barcelona boss, as he is the club's leading appearance-maker and won 25 trophies in 17 years. Miguel Delaney of The Independent thinks it would be too soon for the 39-year-old to return, though:

Barca going straight for Xavi would be an insane decision. His coaching quality is unknowable in a context like Qatar, and - as so many United figures prove - talking a good game is proof of nothing in that regard.

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) January 11, 2020

Xavi retired from playing in May last year and went straight into coaching Al Sadd. They sit in third place in the Qatar Stars League.

Barcelona are next in action on January 19, when they face Granada in La Liga. They are top of the table, ahead of bitter rivals Real Madrid on goal difference, after 19 games of the campaign.

Xavi has reportedly been offered a deal to replace Ernesto Valverde as Barcelona manager, and Al-Sadd have confirmed talks are taking place regarding a move.

Sporting director Mohammed Gholam told BeIN (h/t AFP) that negotiations between the two clubs and the 39-year-old are underway:

"I will not deny that. There are negotiations about Xavi and everyone is talking about them...but I can say that Xavi so far is at Al-Sadd. The final decision is in the hands of Al-Sadd's management, in the hands of the manager, and the hands of Barcelona's management."

Xavi refuted rumours that he'd be joining the Blaugrana, per Samuel Marsden of Sport and ESPN:

Xavi: I cannot say anything, I am focused on Al Sadd. (Barça) were here to talk to me, also to check on Ousmane Dembele. That's it. I cannot say. Sorry. I cannot inform you too much. Just that I met with Abidal, my friend ... I am focused on my team, Al Sadd.

— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) January 11, 2020

Barcelona's sporting director, Eric Abidal, and chief executive officer, Oscar Grau, met Xavi in Doha on Friday and offered him a two-and-a-half-year contract, according to Juan Jimenez at AS.

The Catalan giants want the club legend to replace Valverde, who has come under renewed pressure after losing 3-2 to Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup on Thursday.

Valverde took charge of Barcelona in 2017 and has won two league titles and the Copa del Rey with the club, but he is not popular among supporters. The club's fans do not like the 55-year-old's conservative style of play, and damaging UEFA Champions League defeats to Roma and Liverpool in recent years have drawn criticism of his tactics.

The Barcelona boss has guided his team to the top of La Liga in 2019-20 and into the knockout stages of the Champions League, but doubts remain over his stewardship. Barcelona remain vulnerable defensively and have conceded 23 goals in 19 La Liga games, and they continue to look overreliant on Lionel Messi's enduring brilliance:

369 - Lionel Messi scored more goals within the top five European leagues than any other player in the 2010s; 34 ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. Rivals. #Opta2010s pic.twitter.com/1OK8kBqTSP

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 30, 2019

Thursday's defeat to Atletico brought fresh scrutiny on Valverde after Barcelona threw away a 2-1 lead to go down 3-2, although key players such as Messi and Luis Suarez defended their manager after the game, via ESPN FC:

Despite being eliminated in the Spanish Supercopa, Messi and Suarez still have Valverde's back. pic.twitter.com/p6qDk4JArD

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 9, 2020

Marca's Luis F. Rojo reported that Barcelona want Xavi to replace Valverde "immediately," but the Barcelona coach will stay in his job if the club legend turns the offer down.

Xavi came through Barca's famous La Masia youth academy and went on to captain the side, winning eight league titles and four Champions League crowns with the Catalan giants.

The midfielder left to join Al-Sadd in 2015 and was appointed manager on a two-year contract in May 2019. The job is his first managerial role, but he has made it clear it would be his "dream" to manage Barcelona in the future, per Marca (h/t Football Espana).

Al-Sadd issued a calm response to the initial rumours and said they expect him to return to Barcelona at some point in the future:

#AlSadd general manager Turki Al-Ali: Xavi going to Barcelona is normal and expected because he will be at his club, it’s his first home and he must return there in the future, but as of today, Xavi is the coach of Al Sadd pic.twitter.com/e4MeFYwIp2

— 🏆 #80 Al Sadd SC | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) January 10, 2020

Xavi knows Barcelona inside-out and would be a popular appointment with supporters, but it would represent something of a risk given his lack of top-level managerial experience.

ESPN FC's Samuel Marsden questioned whether the timing was right for Xavi to come back to the Camp Nou:

It's a tricky one for Xavi, who you have to imagine will be Barca coach one day, but would the timing be right? In addition, as @dermotmcorrigan says, he's been closely linked to presidential candidate Victor Font, who will run in 2021 elections.

— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) January 10, 2020

There seems no doubt that Valverde is heading towards the end of his time at Barcelona. His contract expires at the end of the season, although the club have the option to extend it for one more.

A contract extension looks unlikely given Barcelona's less-than-convincing form this season, but it remains to be seen if Xavi will agree to take on one of the biggest jobs in world football so early in his managerial career.

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez is set for a spell on the sidelines, as he will undergo knee surgery on Sunday.

The club confirmed via its official website on Saturday the Uruguayan would have an operation on "the external meniscus of his right knee."

Sport's Albert Masnou and Javi Giraldo reported on Friday the procedure will keep him out for "several weeks."

The 32-year-old has enjoyed a productive campaign, having contributed 14 goals and 11 assists in 23 appearances in all competitions for Barca.

Squawka's Muhammad Butt is hoping Antoine Griezmann can step up in the striker's absence:

alright Griezmann. now is your chance to prove that Suárez doesn't have to play every game. https://t.co/vVGMPgvlXx

— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) January 11, 2020

Suarez has remained a consistent match-winner for the Blaugrana, but his increasing lack of mobility does impact the team's play in the final third.

Ousmane Dembele is also out, having been absent since November 27 with a thigh injury. The Frenchman was expected to be out for 10 weeks, so he's likely to be unable to fill in for Suarez.

As such, manager Ernesto Valverde could opt to deploy Griezmann through the middle and make use of 17-year-old Ansu Fati on the left.

Fati has three goals and an assist in 422 minutes of play this season, while Griezmann has nine goals and four assists in 2,001 minutes.

Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta has said their pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal could hinge on Blaugrana boss Ernesto Valverde's future.

Per Goal's Sam France, Marotta has previously confirmed the player "is one of our targets."

He elaborated on a potential move for the Chilean while speaking to Radio Rai (h/t Goal's James Westwood): "It depends on various factors. He's a player that interests us, but I think at the moment Barcelona's coach is at risk [of being sacked], so the situation depends on that."

Valverde has led Barcelona to back-to-back La Liga titles, and his side are top of the table on goal difference at the halfway point this season.

However, he has been under pressure for much of his time at the club for a number of reasons, including their performance in the UEFA Champions League. In 2017-18, Barca blew a 4-1 first-leg lead over Roma in the quarter-finals, while last season, they did the same with a 3-0 first-leg lead over Liverpool in the semi-finals.

Relative to how the team performed under Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique before him, Barca's football hasn't been particularly inspiring, either, and he has repeatedly made questionable decisions with selection and substitutions.

Football broadcaster Juan G. Arango was critical of him as Barca lost in their Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Thursday, while football writer Colin Millar suggested he should have left last summer:

Valverde is making too many mistakes over and over again. Hard to defend him when he makes two subs 20 mins late. But also blame the players, you CANNOT have lapses like they had and lose a game they controlled. Now having Messi is not enough.

— Juan Arango (@JuanG_Arango) January 9, 2020

Ernesto Valverde has been a successful Barcelona boss, he has had an excellent coaching career and is an affable leader. But the time was right to go last summer and this season is almost certainly his last. Barça fans may want him gone now, but problems go beyond the coach.

— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) January 9, 2020

According to Ben Hayward of the Evening Standard, Barca spoke to club legend Xavi—now manager of Qatari club Al-Sadd—after the defeat, although they have no immediate plans to relieve Valverde of his duties.

As for Vidal, he has made just seven starts in all competitions under Valverde this season, playing 901 minutes.

If the manager remains in charge, the 32-year-old may want to push for a move to Inter in the hope he gets more game time.

On the other hand, Vidal has made the difference several times from the bench this season. Three of his six goals in this campaign have come as a substitute, as did his one assist, so Valverde could be reluctant to part with him if he's still at the helm.  

Al-Sadd have released a statement saying speculation linking Xavi Hernandez with a move back to Barcelona to become the club's manager are "normal." 

The current Blaugrana head coach Ernesto Valverde has been under pressure throughout the previous two campaigns and scrutiny over his position intensified on Thursday, when Barcelona lost 3-2 to Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.

Xavi, who is a legendary figure at the Camp Nou, has been mentioned as a possible replacement if the Catalan giants were to make a change. Al-Sadd, where the 39-year-old is currently the manager, released the following statement in response to the reports through their general manager Turki Al-Ali, per Sport:

"The possibility that Xavi goes to Barcelona at any moment is normal, and we hope that he returns in the future because it was his club and his first home. But as of today, Xavi is the coach of Al-Sadd club.

"Xavi is focused on (Saturday's) game and any negotiation over his departure will be through the official channels."

Turki Al-Ali: Xavi is focusing on tomorrow’s game, any talk about his departure will be made through official channels

Read: https://t.co/HuJmurmMu3#AlSadd pic.twitter.com/y9DLDE8Dnz

— 🏆 #80 Al Sadd SC | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) January 10, 2020

Al-Sadd are currently in third in the Qatar Stars League and will face the team in second spot, Al Rayyan, on Saturday.

According to Juan Jimenez of AS, Barcelona chief executive Oscar Grau and sporting director Eric Abidal met with Xavi in Doha on Friday. In the piece, it's suggested the meeting "was to sound out the ex-Blaugrana star on potentially taking over from Valverde next season."

Samuel Marsden of ESPN FC commented on the reports, noting that Xavi has interests away from football that may prevent him from taking the position:

It's a tricky one for Xavi, who you have to imagine will be Barca coach one day, but would the timing be right? In addition, as @dermotmcorrigan says, he's been closely linked to presidential candidate Victor Font, who will run in 2021 elections.

— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) January 10, 2020

If Xavi was to be given the job, it would be a popular appointment with Barcelona supporters, as he is considered one of the greatest players in the club's history. In a 17-year stint in the first team, the playmaker won eight La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League on four occasions.

As the La Liga Twitter account noted earlier this season, he and Andres Iniesta formed an outstanding midfield partnership:

Name a better midfield duo than Xavi & @andresiniesta8...🔝✌#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/o7c6iTaUiR

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) October 9, 2019

For now, Valverde remains in charge and Barcelona are still in the hunt for La Liga and Champions League glory in 2020. However, Spanish football writer Colin Millar believes the time would have been right for the coach to leave ahead of the current season:

Ernesto Valverde has been a successful Barcelona boss, he has had an excellent coaching career and is an affable leader. But the time was right to go last summer and this season is almost certainly his last. Barça fans may want him gone now, but problems go beyond the coach.

— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) January 9, 2020

While Barcelona have enjoyed success under Valverde—he's won two league titles in his two full seasons—the brand of football played by the club under his tenure has left some fans miffed. The embarrassing Champions League collapses against Roma and Liverpool have also left a bitter taste.

Xavi would be an exciting successor, although he is still inexperienced when it comes to coaching. He only took over as Al-Sadd boss in May, having retired from playing.

Lionel Messi has said Barcelona's players have "complete confidence" in manager Ernesto Valverde after the Spaniard came under further pressure following Thursday's 3-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. 

Barca were 10 minutes away from reaching the final of the revamped tournament after Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann's goals turned the game on its head in Saudi Arabia following Koke's opener.

However, late strikes from Alvaro Morata and Angel Correa put Atleti into Sunday's final against Real Madrid:

The second half of Barcelona vs. Atletico was madness 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jwuG9q0gyA

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 10, 2020

In the aftermath, Messi acknowledged Barca had made mistakes, but he backed Valverde, saying overall it was a positive performance, per Sam Marsden of ESPN FC: 

"Yes, there's complete confidence in the coach. It's normal that a lot gets said when there's a loss, when you don't meet your objectives or you don't play like we like to play.

"We can't commit schoolboy mistakes as we did. It's been a while since we felt so good, though. We controlled the game for 80 minutes, taking the match [to Atletico], and then it gets away from us with a couple of untimely mistakes. They were dead before then.

"Now we're thinking about the second half of the season. We have a lot to improve. We're top of the league, but we're not playing well and we need to get back on our game. We took a step forward today in that sense, looking beyond the result."

It is not the first time during Valverde's tenure that Barca have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a cup competition.

In the past two seasons, Barca have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Roma and Liverpool after establishing comfortable first-leg leads:

2018. 2019. 2020.

💔 pic.twitter.com/6jkuBa4mnK

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 9, 2020

As a result, Valverde's position has long been precarious despite him overseeing two La Liga title wins in his two full seasons in charge at the Camp Nou.

He has led Barca to the top of the table at the halfway point of the current campaign, albeit only on goal difference to Real:

❄🔝❄@FCBarcelona are winter champions of #LaLigaSantander, with @realmadriden level on points! 🍿 pic.twitter.com/d8GUTdxTWJ

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) January 5, 2020

Messi was not the only key player to give his backing to the Barca manager after Thursday's defeat.

Per Marsden, Luis Suarez said "Valverde's future is with this club," and "he doesn't carry any blame."

The 55-year-old coach himself, meanwhile, said speculation about his future comes with the territory as manager of one of the world's biggest clubs:

"Coaches focus on working hard and giving everything. We know how football is. There is a permanent instability when you lose. You can't control that. I just focus on my own business."

There is no third-place match in the Super Cup's new format, so Barcelona now have a weekend off.

They are back in action on January 19, when they host Granada in La Liga. 

Atletico Madrid will meet Real Madrid in the 2020 Supercopa de Espana final after defeating Barcelona 3-2 on Thursday in Saudi Arabia.

Koke gave Atletico the lead just 18 seconds into the second half, but Lionel Messi responded with an equaliser only six minutes after the opener.

Messi thought he'd scored his second on 59 minutes as Barca turned the screw on their opponents, but the goal was disallowed for handball against the Argentinian after the referee checked the VAR monitor.

However, Barca refused to relent, and two minutes later it was 2-1 when Antoine Griezmann headed home from close range.

Barca were denied another goal with 16 minutes to go when Gerard Pique tapped home from close range, but the effort was chalked off by VAR due to an offside in the build-up.

Atleti grabbed a shock 81st-minute equaliser when Barca stopper Neto brought down Vitolo, allowing Alvaro Morata to score from the penalty spot.

The comeback was complete when Angel Correa beat Neto with just four minutes remaining for the 3-2 win, setting up a clash with Real Madrid in Sunday's final.

The Supercopa de Espana final will be a Madrid derby in Saudi Arabia ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/DCXQxwJd54

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 9, 2020

The Supercopa holders dominated possession in the first half but Diego Simeone's men refused to give an inch as they absorbed the pressure. Sergi Roberto went closest for Barca in the opening moments, however, he failed to hit the target with his volley.

The game sprung into life immediately after half-time when Atleti snatched the lead through Koke. Correa assisted the substitute who had been on the pitch less than a minute, and the midfielder calmly passed his shot inside the post.

It was the perfect start to the second half for Simeone's side, but it fired up Barca to produce a comprehensive response.

Messi netted the equaliser as Barcelona overloaded the box. Luis Suarez laid the ball off for the captain who squeezed past two defenders to earn his goal.

The Spanish champions were back in control after scoring, and Atleti retreated onto the back foot as Barca's attack showed venom.

—Koke scores
—Messi equalises
—Messi scores (disallowed by VAR)
—Griezmann scores
—Pique scores (disallowed by VAR)

All in the second half 🍿 pic.twitter.com/tpgX88Bdld

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 9, 2020

The flow of traffic dictated Barca would soon take the lead, and Messi appeared to oblige to make it 2-1. The captain wheeled away in celebration of his strike, but the referee ruled the ball had hit his arm in the build-up to his shot.

There wasn't time for Atleti to breathe against the waves of attacks, and Griezmann nodded home after Suarez watched his header be stopped by Oblak. The keeper's save looped into the air, allowing Griezmann a simple opportunity from a yard out.

Barca were dominating the game and it appeared there would only be one winner, but the encounter was flipped on its head late.

The Blaugrana hunted a third and the match appeared to be dead when Pique slotted home. Arturo Vidal created the chance, but VAR showed the Chilean had veered marginally offside, keeping the score at 2-1.

80’—Barcelona 2-1 Atletico
86’—Barcelona 2-3 Atletico

🗣️ ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? pic.twitter.com/Z6wffR0wKJ

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 9, 2020

Two goals in five minutes broke Barca hearts as Atleti set up a Madrid derby against their bitter crosstown rivals in the final.

Morata made sure of his penalty after Vitolo was fouled in the box, and Correa ran through the heart of the defence to punish the holders as Neto failed to keep his strike out.

It was a pulsating second half and a game which Barca fully controlled, but Simeone's men advanced despite having just 28 per cent possession on the night.

            

What's Next

The pair of Spanish giants return to La Liga action after Sunday's final. Atleti travel to Eibar on January 18 and Barca host Granada on January 19.

                

This article will be updated shortly to provide more information on this game.

Get the best sports content from the web and social in the new B/R app. Get the app and get the game.   

Carles Alena has risked the ire of Barcelona fans by suggesting he could move to rivals Real Madrid at some point in the future. 

Per Cadena Ser (h/t Sport), the midfielder was asked about playing for Los Blancos, and despite the fact he's a lifelong fan of the Blaugrana, he won't rule out a switch to the capital: "Football has many turns. I've been a Barca fan all my life. It would be tough, but they've always taught me, never say never. But for me they are a rival team."

He also discussed his loan move to Real Betis, saying his relationship with coach Ernesto Valverde remains good:

"(Valverde) never told me why he didn't call me up. But I had a very good relationship because of everything he has done for me. I hope that we meet in the future. I called him to say goodbye. He knew that I wanted to go. At the start of December I was pretty sure. He knew that my decision was almost taken."

Per Sport, Valverde was opposed to the loan deal:

Ernesto Valverde did not want Carles Aleña to join Real Betis on loan https://t.co/XlacaMbpTm

— SPORT English (@Sport_EN) January 3, 2020

The 22-year-old was born in Mataro, close to the city of Barcelona, and spent over a decade playing for various youth teams of the club and Barca B:

First-team opportunities have been limited since he made his debut in 2016, however, with just two starts in La Liga and one in the UEFA Champions League this season.

Alena is seen as a big talent, but Barcelona have plenty of midfield options. Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets and Arthur have been the most consistent starters so far this season, with Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal also in the mix. That has led to few opportunities for star prospects like Alena and Riqui Puig.

FootballTalentScout believes Betis is a good fit for Alena:

Carles Aleñá on loan at Betis.

Great move. Carles deserves first-team football so much.

Aleñá, Guardado, Canales & Fekir - Betis' midfield looks very impressive. pic.twitter.com/Z32FhoqcqP

— Football Talent Scout - Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) January 4, 2020

The youngster will spend the next six months in Andalusia, playing with the likes of Joaquin and Sergio Canales. Betis could use a strong presence in the centre of the park, having used centre-back Marc Bartra in such a role multiple times this season.

The loan will give Alena the chance to develop before staking his claim at the Camp Nou next season.

Vidal is expected to leave soon, and the club reportedly believes he is trying to push the Blaugrana into a sale through legal action over unpaid wages, per Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Italia).

Rakitic has also been linked with a move away, and Sevilla's Monchi has opened the door for a reunion in the future, per Canal Sur Radio (h/t Football Espana's Collin Millar).

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde opened up about the controversial new Spanish Super Cup format ahead of the match against Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia, saying it's the latest example of the sport finding new ways to make money.  

Per ESPN FC's Sam Marsden, Valverde talked about the changing format of the competition and how he prefers how it used to be:

"I know the context of the country [we're playing in] has led to a lot of reverberations. We have to keep in mind that the football we're involved in now is an industry that is always looking for new ways of income. It is what it is.

"This is my fifth Supercopa, and in the first three I had to play the second leg away from home, against the league champions. Now, when I have won the league twice [with Barca], we've had a one-off game at a neutral setting and now these changes this year.

"It's strange to me to have four teams, but it is what it is. If I had to choose, I would prefer the previous format, but it's the federation that decides."

The press conference started late after the driver bringing him and Sergio Busquets to Jeddah mistakenly headed for the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium at first: "We've certainly got to know the city a little bit better now. The chauffeur thought we were going to the stadium where Valencia and Madrid are playing, and we had to turn around. We were quite far away and there was a lot of traffic."

Per Marsden, it's an easy city to get lost in:

Valverde & Busquets running late for news conference in Jeddah because the bus driver got lost. Tbf it’s a massive city and the traffic is chaos at this time pic.twitter.com/QIz155YDiG

— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) January 8, 2020

Traditionally, the Super Cup features the La Liga and Copa del Rey winners in a head-to-head clash. From 1982-2018 it was played over two legs. Last year's event was held over a single leg, however, and took place in Morocco, rather than Spain.

For this year's Super Cup, four teams have traveled to Saudi Arabia, adding Real Madrid and Atletico to the mix. Barcelona and Los Blancos will earn at least €6 million of a total €120 million deal.

The decision to expand the competition and move it to Jeddah was not a popular one, per Marsden. Ticket sales from Spain appear to back this up:

The four clubs competing in this week's Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia have sold just nine percent of their 12,000 tickets: Real Madrid (700), Barcelona (300), Atletico (50) & Valencia (26). Apparently ticket sales going well among locals, though https://t.co/E4Ju4ehFqb

— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) January 6, 2020

Italian football has also held several of its Super Cup matches outside of the country, with the last two editions taking place in Saudi Arabia. It has also played matches in the United States, Libya, China and Qatar.

Wednesday's semi-final saw Real knock out the Copa winners Valencia:

Barcelona and Atletico will play on Thursday, with Super Cup final will be played on Sunday.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has said Arturo Vidal remains with the club, but he will wait to see if things develop with the Chilean amid reported transfer links with Manchester United.

According to Phil Haigh of Metro, Valverde said he might name the midfielder in Thursday's Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia:

"I speak with him as I speak with others. He is a player who is with us and we do not have to think that he is going to leave. Then we will see what happens. Tomorrow [in the Super Cup] we will see if he starts out.

"Arturo Vidal plays with us and tomorrow he will be on the field, on the bench or nearby.

"In the same way that we do not serve players from other teams, we do not pay attention to our interest."

Vidal has been consistently linked with United over the years, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's immediate need for midfield reinforcements could finally see the player land at Old Trafford.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera (h/t Adam Shergold for MailOnline) reported Barca might be open to selling Vidal, with United and Inter Milan both interested in agreeing a deal. The player's agent has been speaking to prospective buyers, and the former Juventus star is reportedly available for £17 million.

United are dealing with long-term injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, and the club's midfield is left with few options.

Fred has established himself as a starter in recent months alongside Andreas Pereira, but their lightweight pairing has made them vulnerable against physical sides.

Vidal could quickly solve this problem, and with the 32-year-old's career in decline, a fresh challenge might be accepted in January.

The midfielder is also in dispute with the Spanish champions over an alleged unpaid £2 million bonus, with Vidal launching legal proceedings over the matter against the club, per Shergold.

The former Bayern Munich man is no longer the world-class talent who dominated for the Old Lady next to Pogba, but he could offer short-term relief and add vital experience for United.

Solskjaer's team have displayed plenty of promise this season. United have competed hard against the biggest sides in England, but their lack of knowledge and diversity against deep-lying teams have seen the Red Devils fail in games they expect to win.

Vidal would offer United leadership at a vital point in the season. Manchester United, who are fifth in the table, retain their aspirations of a top-four finish, but impact signings must be captured in January.