Barcelona set to sack Xavi as Joan Laporta makes big U-turn: Reports
In a shocking turn of events, Barcelona are set to sack their current coach Xavi, despite both parties confirming the latter's stay for another season last month, per multiple reports in Spain.
According to RAC1, Barca President Joan Laporta has decided to sack Xavi following his comments in the pre-match press conference before their fixture against Almeria on Thursday. Journalists Ferran Correas and Javi Miguel and media outlets SPORT, COPE and Diario AS also reported the same.
In the pre-match conference on Wednesday (May 16), Xavi spoke at length about Barcelona's current financial situation. He reiterated the same after Barca's match against Almeria on Thursday.
The former Blaugrana player previously announced that he would leave the club at the end of the season at the beginning of 2024 but changed his mind to stay for another season last month. Laporta reportedly played an important role in convincing the Spaniard.
However, as things stand now, Laporta was not happy with Xavi's recent statements and wants a coach who will be optimistic about the future, per AS. Previously, former Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick and current Barca Atletic coach Rafa Marquez were reportedly considered as the coach's replacements.
Xavi opens up about Barcelona's current "economic situation"
In the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Xavi opened up about the much-discussed financial conditions of Barcelona, hinting that the club is not at its best economically.
According to MARCA (translated from Spanish via Reshad Rahman), the former Barcelona player said that things are not how it was "25 years ago". The coach said they will try to compete with their rivals, Real Madrid, despite their poor financial conditions.
"We are going to try to compete (with Madrid). The situation is difficult economically that has nothing to do with what used to happen 25 years ago, when the coach came and said 'I love this one, this one and this one'. It doesn't work like that anymore. I understand what’s happening and that's how we're going to manage." the Barca manager said.
The coach believed that the fans "should know" the reality but that does not mean they will not try to "achieve their goals."
“Right now, we are not in the same conditions as other clubs with better fair play. The fans should know. But this doesn't mean that we won’t try to achieve our goals.” he said.
The Spaniard further reinstated his opinion following Barca's 2-0 win over Almeria on Thursday night, stating that "the economic situation" at the club is not the best.
“I just said that economic situation at Barça is not the best. We are trying to work together with the club to get the best situation and strengthen ourselves. From here we will face the coming season with enthusiasm to get titles." (via Fabrizio Romano)
It remains to be seen whether Xavi continues to coach Barcelona for another season or Laporta decides to bring in a new manager.