Xavi ready to pen 'dream' Barcelona deal

15/12/2012 7:20:00 AM

The midfielder reveals that a new contract has been agreed following months of negotiations and all that is now required is for him to sign on the dotted line

Xavi has reiterated his intention to see his career out at Barcelona after shaking hands with club officials over a new deal that will see the playmaker stay put until 2016.

The 32-year-old came up through the youth ranks at La Masia and has since gone onto feature almost 700 times for the Catalan giants' first team, winning numerous domestic titles and European trophies in the 21 years that have followed.

He has repeatedly expressed his desire to extend his contract with Barcelona, which expires in 2014, and it now seems that his "dream" of hanging up his boots at Camp Nou will come to fruition, with just the paperwork left to sign.

“I am very happy in this club and the only thing now is for the contract to be drawn up," Xavi told reporters. "I am very happy, I’ve hardly been slow to agree.

“They want to continue and my dream is to finish here and it looks like it will come true. I do not know if next week we will announce it as until 2016."

Barcelona face fellow Liga high-fliers Atletico Madrid on Sunday.