Former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez said on Thursday that moving to Qatar, where he now plays for Doha side Al Sadd, was "one of the best decisions" of his life.

Considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Xavi said in an interview with the 2022 World Cup organisers' website, that he had no regrets about moving to the Middle East from La Liga.

"I can say that it has been one of the best decisions of my life to come to Qatar," he said.

"It is a fantastic country which has welcomed me and my family, and it is a great project here with Aspire and the 2022 FIFA World Cup."

He added that he was "very satisfied" to be in Doha.

"Qatar is right now one of the capitals of sport in the world. They invest a lot in sport," he told www.sc.qa.

Xavi moved to Qatar for the beginning of the 2015-16 season, in a reported multi-million euro deal, after a stellar career at the Catalan club.

Xavi had faced some condemnation for moving to the country which will controversially host the 2022 World Cup, but he shrugged off such criticism.

He made more than 700 appearances for Barcelona, winning eight La Liga championships and four Champions League trophies.

Xavi made his debut in Qatar last September and Al Sadd finished third in the league and will this weekend play in the final of the country's major domestic cup competition, the Emir Cup.

He has settled in the Gulf and since his arrival in Qatar, his wife has given birth to their first child, a daughter named Asia.