Xavi Pascual agrees to join Dubai Basketball

Xavi Pascual is set to leave FC Barcelona and take over Dubai Basketball after the season, according to reports published on May 17 by MARCA, Sport and BasketNews. MARCA said the deal was effectively done and reported that Pascual would trigger a 300,000-euro exit clause in his Barcelona contract. BasketNews reported that negotiations were at an advanced stage and that, barring an unexpected change, Pascual was expected to lead Dubai next season. FC Barcelona had publicly backed Pascual two days earlier. On May 15, the club said in a statement, cited by Basketball Sphere, that it was “exclusively considering” Pascual as the coach to lead the project under development and denied meeting any other coach about the near future. That left a gap between Barcelona’s public position and the reporting that emerged on May 17. (marca.com) ### How firm is the reported agreement? MARCA described Pascual’s move as a done deal in practice on May 17. The newspaper said the coach would leave Barcelona this summer and head to Dubai after paying the release clause in his contract. BasketNews, citing sources, used slightly more cautious language and said both sides were in advanced negotiations and expected to complete the move unless something changed. (basketballsphere.com) Sport matched that broad outline. Its report said Dubai Basketball was close to an agreement with Pascual and that he was expected to take the job after the season. Across the three reports, the core point was the same: Dubai had identified Pascual as its next coach and the talks were near completion as of May 17. (marca.com) ### Why is Dubai targeting Pascual now? Dubai Basketball is preparing for its second EuroLeague season in 2026-27, according to BasketNews. The outlet said the club finished its inaugural campaign one spot short of the play-in zone and was moving into a more ambitious phase of the project. MARCA reported that Dubai was assembling a high-profile roster and wanted Pascual to lead a team built to compete immediately at EuroLeague level. (sport.es) Pascual, 53, returned to Barcelona in November 2025 on a deal running to 2028, according to FC Barcelona’s announcement at the time. The club said then that he was coming back for a second spell after winning 19 trophies in his first stint, including the 2010 EuroLeague title, four Liga ACB championships and three Copa del Rey trophies. BasketNews said his current Barcelona team reached the EuroLeague play-in and remained in the ACB top four. (basketnews.com) ### What does Abu Dhabi have to do with this move? BasketNews and Sport both linked the hire to the 2027 EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Euroleague Basketball announced in January 2025 that Abu Dhabi would host the Final Four for the first time. Euroleague Basketball said then that the event would be staged at Etihad Arena as part of its expansion into new markets. (fcbarcelona.com) That makes the geography important. Dubai Basketball is based in the neighboring United Arab Emirates market, and the reports said the club wants a coach with EuroLeague pedigree ahead of that event. That connection was reported by BasketNews and Sport; neither Barcelona nor Dubai had publicly confirmed the appointment in the material reviewed. (basketnews.com) ### What happens next for Barcelona and Dubai? Barcelona’s next step is a formal decision once its 2025-26 season ends. The club’s most recent public position, issued May 15, was that Pascual remained its chosen coach, while the May 17 reports said he was preparing to leave. Dubai’s next step would be to finalize and announce the appointment if the agreement is completed. (basketnews.com) The timing matters because the move has been reported, not officially unveiled. As of May 18, the clearest public markers were MARCA’s report of a 300,000-euro exit clause, BasketNews’ report that negotiations were advanced, and Barcelona’s earlier statement backing Pascual. (marca.com) (basketballsphere.com)