HomeFootball NewsXavi stays at Barcelona as it's the 'best for the club'

Xavi stays at Barcelona as it’s the ‘best for the club’

-

Xavi is confident his decision to remain as coach of Barcelona is “best for the club”, albeit he still believes it’s a “cruel” job.

The former Barca midfielder today completed his U-turn and said he would see out his contract that expires in the summer of 2025 having announced in January he would leave Camp Nou at the end of this season.

Read our other football news stories here:
Carragher: Liverpool title bid over
Watford make Cleverley permanent boss
Klopp apologises after derby defeat

An upturn in results and morale at Barca prompted president Joan Laporta to engage with Xavi in a bid to persuade him to stay and his persistence has paid off.

Explaining the reasons behind his volte-face, Xavi said: “I am a Barcelona man and I always try to do my best for the club.

“When I met with the president I put my position at his disposal but I was given great confidence by him, the sports department and the whole board.

“The backing of the players has also been very important. They have shown me this project has to continue. We are working well and it’s a winning project.

“I think it is best for the club. In January, I thought the best thing was to leave but now I see it differently. I’m very grateful, I think it’s the best decision.”

One of the reasons behind Xavi’s initial decision to quit was the intense scrutiny, particularly from the media, with him labelling the environment as “cruel”.

He said today that that had not changed. He added: “My opinion of the environment is that it will continue to be cruel, but I feel strong and eager.

“The project is not finished and we are going to give everything, but it’s still going to be cruel and unpleasant.”

Laporta was delighted Xavi was staying. He insisted he had not thought about anyone else in the role as he always hoped this would be the outcome.

He said: “With Xavi I have a lot of affinity and I needed to see him excited with the confidence he transmits.

“I understand the project with Xavi as coach. I told him we would not do anything until the end of the season, that we would not look for a coach and instead wait to see how it ended and how he felt.

“We didn’t talk to anyone because there was hope that Xavi would think about it.”

Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher
Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events.

LATEST POSTS

Ramsdale delighted to have secured Southampton switch

Aaron Ramsdale could not hide his delight after securing a deadline-day move to Southampton. Goalkeeper Ramsdale has signed a four-year contract at St Mary’s after Saints...

Ancelotti hungry for UCL success with Real Madrid to go with LaLiga triumph

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is eyeing the Champions League trophy to go alongside the club's LaLiga success. Los Blancos confirmed their record-breaking 36th title at...

De Zerbi hails Aston Villa as ‘one of the best teams in the Premier League’

Roberto De Zerbi says his Brighton side beat "one of the best teams in the Premier League" on Sunday. The Seagulls took all three points thanks...

Madueke backing Chelsea for Europe after West Ham thumping

Noni Madueke is backing Chelsea to finish as high as possible after the Blues thrashed West Ham 5-0 in the Premier League. First-half goals from Cole...

Most Popular