Xavi Hernández wanted to leave as Barcelona coach, but he was convinced to stay and then when he wanted to stay in the job, he was fired anyway. On Wednesday, in a decision that could define president Joan Laporta's second term, Xavi was formally replaced by German coach Hansi Flick.
It has been a saga marked by turmoil, changes in course, the influence of agents and, ultimately, a lack of trust between the two great players, Xavi and Laporta, although they are doing everything possible to part ways on good terms.
“It's been a rollercoaster of emotions,” Xavi said last week. That's one way of putting it.
The former Barca midfielder insisted nothing could change his mind in January when he announced he would be leaving this summer following a 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal. At the end of April he changed his mind and his commitment to Barça was reaffirmed at a dinner at Laporta's house that has since become known as “sushi night.” The next day, at a press conference to announce that Xavi would fulfill his contract until 2025, an emotional Laporta choked and tears rolled down his cheeks.
At the time, ESPN revealed that sources close to both the president and the coach referred to it as a marriage of convenience. Barça's financial problems and the lack of managerial options on the market made it difficult to appoint a replacement.
Xavi, someone who has supported Barça all his life and played more than 700 games for the first team, was willing to put the club's needs first. A source close to the coaching staff, however, detailed how they felt his position was “weakened” and that “at the first obstacle in the way we will be in the line of fire.” What no one imagined was that the first setback would come three weeks after Laporta's tears.
After reconciliation, cracks quickly appear
The trigger for renewed attention on Xavi's future came on May 15, in a press conference prior to the 2-0 victory in Almería. He referred to the club's difficult financial situation and explained to fans the harsh reality of competing with rivals like Real Madrid, who signed Jude Bellingham for €100 million last year and are expected to sign Kylian Mbappé this summer. , is not easy. . Those comments irritated Laporta, who did not travel to Almería the next day, but sources told ESPN that it was not the only reason for the president's change of mind.
An important factor is that Laporta was never entirely convinced of Xavi as a coach, sources close to the president said, even though he led Barça to the LaLiga title last season, the club's first since 2019. Laporta had delayed firing Ronald Koeman in 2021. due to lack of alternatives. He had sounded out Flick to gauge his interest in the job earlier that year and almost reluctantly turned to Xavi who, despite being a club legend, had little managerial experience beyond a brief spell in Qatar. .
Also contributing to Xavi's downfall in the last three weeks was the 4-2 defeat in Girona. He once again focused attention on Barça's trophyless campaign, with the same flaws that blighted their 2023-24 season – individual errors, conceding too easily under pressure and failing to close out games – once again evident. During that period, although brief, the Girona minnows jumped over Barça to occupy second place, which is significant because finishing second means that Barcelona will play in the Spanish Super Cup, a competition based in Saudi Arabia that will report to the club more than 5 million euros.
Barça eventually recovered to finish second, finishing the season with 85 points, their second-highest figure in the last five years and just three less than in 2022-23, when they won the league. However, the damage had already been done, with eliminations in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and Copa del Rey and a drubbing against Madrid in the Super Cup final. The previous comments against Almería also weighed in and there was some anger in the board due to the contrast between Xavi's messages in public and behind closed doors.
Despite publicly acknowledging Barça's financial “reality”, Xavi also spoke of his confidence in the squad, made up of young talents such as Pau Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal, Gavi and Pedri, but complemented by the experience of Ilkay Gündogan, Robert Lewandowski and Marc-André ter. Stegen and then players who should be in their best years, like Ronald Araújo and Frenkie de Jong.
However, Xavi also felt that a renewal was necessary, especially in attack. ESPN revealed this week that Lewandowski, João Félix, João Cancelo and Vitor Roque were all expendable. Lewandowski's situation was especially complicated: the Polish forward is represented by Pini Zahavi, who is also Flick's agent and who, according to sources, has a great influence on Laporta, although they added that the president would have supported an exit.
Roque's situation also caused tensions between Xavi and the club. It was an agreement in which sporting director Deco, previously Barça's advisor in South America, had been closely involved. The Brazilian striker arrived in January for an initial €31 million transfer, but Xavi has used him sparingly, logging just 328 minutes in 14 games. Appearances in LaLiga. Before that now infamous match against Almería, Xavi suggested that Barça would have been better off waiting until the summer to sign him, as was the original plan when the signing was announced.
The different positions on what was best for Roque caused more tension among the club's hierarchy. Xavi felt that the player's progress would be better if he were on loan next season, but Roque's agent, André Cury, disagreed and said that if he left Barça it would be on a permanent transfer. Sources told ESPN that other influential figures at the club also wanted Roque to be given more opportunities.
The Friday before Barça's last game of the LaLiga season, Laporta met with Xavi at the training ground. Deco and other members of Xavi's board and staff were present when they were told that the game against Sevilla would be his last in charge. Xavi has said that he “accepts” the decision, but does not reveal the reason he gave it. Laporta, for his part, has not yet commented publicly on the dismissal.
This Wednesday, Barça expressed its gratitude to Xavi after reaching an agreement to terminate the last year of his contract. He agreed to give up the last 12 months of his salary, which, according to sources, would be around 12 million euros gross. However, sources add that he will be reimbursed a substantial part of the €2.5 million he paid out of his own pocket to ensure his departure from his previous job, at Al Sadd, in 2021. The six members of his staff They will also be remunerated for the last year of their contracts at a cost of around 4 million euros for Barça.
So why choose Flick?
Before the sushi night, sources told ESPN Flick had been learning Spanish and preparing to take charge of Barca this summer. The news of Xavi's U-turn came as a surprise to him and Flick's agent, Zahavi.
However, Laporta's interest in Flick predates the German's professional relationship with Zahavi. When Laporta returned to the Barça presidency for the second time in 2021, ESPN revealed how much he admired the German coaching school. Flick, Jürgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and even Julian Nagelsmann were among those who exercised a style of play that Laporta thought would be successful at Barça. He was attracted to the pressure and physical condition of the teams they trained.
ESPN previously revealed that Flick's first camp call came in the spring of 2021, when he was still Bayern Munich manager and Laporta was looking to move on from Koeman. Bayern had won the treble the previous season, embarrassing Barça by beating them 8-2 on their way to Champions League glory. However, the call came too late, as Flick had agreed to take charge of the German team.
A disappointing spell with Germany, including a group stage exit at the 2022 World Cup, led to Flick's sacking in September 2023, but Laporta remained a supporter. Given that Flick was out of work, which would make his appointment relatively cheap as no contract termination was necessary, he was among the early favorites when Xavi announced that he would step down at the end of the season in January. . Flick's decision to work with Zahavi, given the agent's relationship with Laporta, shortly afterwards was as clear a sign as any that his chances of landing the job were good.
There were talks over the following months and, in April, sources say there was a belief among Flick's group that he would succeed Xavi.
Barça had considered other candidates, but one by one they fell. Sources told ESPN that Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp were considered “impossible targets”, while Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Brighton & Hove Albion's Roberto De Zerbi were considered too expensive. Bologna coach Thiago Motta, who is heading to Juventus, is close to Deco, but he was never among the favourites.
In February, the search for Xavi's replacement was progressing slowly. Tuchel was considered, sources confirmed to ESPN, but it is unclear to what extent Barça became interested in the outgoing Bayern coach. Remaining were Flick and Rafa Márquez, the former Mexico international who has been in charge of Barça's B team in the Spanish third division for the last two years.
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Márquez received the support of Alejandro Echeverría, Laporta's former brother-in-law and another person who has influence within the president's inner circle, as well as Deco. However, sources told ESPN there was never an “official conversation” with the 45-year-old former centre-back about replacing Xavi. Laporta saw him more as a short-term option in case Xavi left before the end of the campaign.
Therefore, there was disappointment in the Flick camp when it emerged that Xavi would be staying. But that disappointment turned to hope a few weeks later when, as ESPN first revealed, Deco and Bojan Krkić, who works alongside the sporting director, traveled to London, where reports claimed talks to appoint Flick were accelerated.
The news of Xavi's imminent dismissal generated mixed opinions among his followers. During the 3-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on May 19, Barça's last home game of the season, some sections of the crowd chanted “Barça yes, Laporta no.” Other fans responded by whistling.
The German coach finally arrived in Barcelona on Tuesday, and the club confirmed on Wednesday that he had signed a two-year contract (reports suggest it is a deal worth €3m gross) to succeed Xavi, who offered some advice to his potential heir. after Sunday's victory in Seville.
“They have to know that it is a difficult situation, because Barcelona is a difficult club, but also because of the adverse financial situation, especially [LaLiga’s] rules of financial fair play,” Xavi told reporters. “It won't be easy at all. They will suffer and need patience because it is a really difficult job.
“The only thing that can save them is to win, they have been part of the club [previously] Or not.”
