Xavi has confirmed, according to report on Sunday, that he will be leaving Barcelona at the end of the current La Liga season.
By Olisa Obi
Xavi confirmed this after his side suffered a shock 5-3 loss to Villarreal late last night.
While speaking after the match he said, “I want to announce that, on June 30, I will not continue as coach of Barcelona,” the former Spain international said.
“I decided a few days ago, but I think it’s time. The club needs a change of dynamic.”
Xavi continued to explain his decision to leave the club, “I think the players could not free themselves up. I don’t want to be a problem for the club, but the opposite.
“Right now, if I think with my head and think about the club, the solution and the best thing is for me to leave in June, that is how I feel.
“I think this decision will help unblocking the team and the mood in here. I just told the president Joan Laporta now. We’ve had a meeting, it was a very human conversation, just with common sense. The trust from them is still fantastic.
“But I believe this is the moment to say this. I don’t make my decisions following money, my contract will never be a problem. I just make my choices following my heart. I don’t need anything more.”
Xavi further said that “In Barcelona, you always feel like you’re not valued, you’re mistreated — that’s how the club works. From a mental health level, it’s tough too.
“I’m a positive guy but the battery levels keep running out — and at some point, you realise there’s no point in staying.”
Xavi confirmed it immediately after their shock loss to Villarreal that he would be stepping down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season.
The former Spain international went into the game under pressure after an indifferent run of form from his side, but things looked set to ease after Barca rallied from two down to lead 3-2.
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He had previously threatened to leave following Barca’s 4-1 defeat to Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup two weeks ago. The 44-year-old said he would not hesitate to resign from the club he used to captain, if he no longer felt that his players were behind him.
In their current poor run of form, Barca lost 4-2 to Athletic Club as they crashed out of the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage last week. Xavi was appointed manager in November 2021, replacing Ronald Koeman in the dugout.
Barca’s latest defeat leaves them 10 points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid and in third place behind Girona, with their hopes of retaining the title quickly diminishing.
In Xavi’s first season as head coach he was able to guide the Blaugrana to their first league title since 2019 and the first one without club legend Messi in 15 years.
