VIDEO: Xavi makes Qatar league debut in front of sparse crowd

Xavi made his debut with new club Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League on Sunday - and barely anyone was there to see it.

The 35-year-old left Barcelona this summer after spending more than 20 years with the club. He accepted a two-year deal with the Doha-based team on a reported €10-million salary.

Only a few hundred people were in attendance to watch his first league game - a sharp contrast from the tens of thousands of fans who flocked to his old home at Camp Nou.

Xavi managed to get himself involved in the match, with an easy assist off a free kick.

Xavi is one of several Spanish stars to play in Qatar, including Raul, who played 39 matches with Al Sadd before leaving to play for the New York Cosmos earlier this year.

Xavi is also an ambassador for Qatar Football Association as it seeks to repair its image ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Qatar is notorious for its record of human rights violations and has been accused of bribery connected to the awarding of the tournament.