24 May 2024 , 13:01
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Barcelona have confirmed that Xavi will leave the club at the end of the current season.
In another remarkable twist in the ongoing managerial saga at Barca, head coach Xavi, who had been contracted until 2025, will take charge of the season's final game on Sunday against Sevilla before officially departing the club.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta informed the 44-year-old coach of his fate in a meeting at the training ground on Friday. Xavi's confirmed exit follows months of speculation surrounding the Spaniard's future at the club.
The vacancy is expected to be filled by former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Flick, who has reportedly been in talks with the Catalan club for the last few months.
A statement from Barcelona read: “The president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, has informed Xavi Hernandez that he will not continue as coach of the first team in the 2024-25 season. The meeting took place at the Joan Gamper training complex, with the presence of sporting vice-president Rafa Yuste, the sporting director Anderson Luis de Souza, Deco, Xavi and his assistants Oscar Hernández and Sergio Alegre.
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“Barcelona wish to thank Xavi for his work as coach, which is added to his unequalled career as a player and captain, and wish him all the luck in the world. He will take charge of his last game as first team coach this Sunday in Seville. In the coming days, Barcelona will communicate the new structure of the first team.”
Xavi initially announced in January that he would be leaving the Camp Nou. But he performed a spectacular U-turn in April after being persuaded by Laporta and other members of the hierarchy to remain on board after an improvement in form and results. From then, the former Spain midfielder publicly stated that he had every intention of remaining at the club.
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WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 9: Hansi Hans-Dieter Flick Head Coach of Germany gestures during the international friendly match between Germany and Japan at Volkswagen Arena on September 9, 2023 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Jürgen Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images) (Photo by Jürgen Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)In a public press conference held the morning after it was announced that Xavi would remain at the club, Laporta claimed that the decision to keep Xavi at the club was decided in three minutes after the two men looked each other in the eye.
“I was always clear that I wanted Xavi to continue,” Laporta said. “Stability is very important for success.” Exactly a month later, Laporta informed Xavi that he had been sacked.
But recent comments from Xavi in a press conference, in which he opened up about the club's financial struggles, are said to have angered Laporta. Reports emerged that Laporta intended to sack Xavi, though the manager remained resolute that he would remain in the role.
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