Xavi will now stay at FC Barcelona. © APA/afp / LLUIS GENE

Resignation from retirement: “Want to achieve great things”

Xavi actually announced in January that he would no longer be on the FC Barcelona sidelines next season. Now the trainer has changed his mind.

25 April 2024

From: dpa

FC Barcelona is hoping for success again in the coming season thanks to the announced stay of coach Xavi Hernández after a season without a title. “We are convinced that we can achieve great things,” said Vice President Rafa Yuste after the coach met with the club’s management on Wednesday evening.

As a result, Xavi moved away from his early departure at the end of this season, which he announced three months ago. The 44-year-old former professional, who celebrated great success as a player with the Catalans, now wants to fulfill his contract, which runs until 2025. At the end of January, Xavi declared that he wanted to create space for a necessary change of course with his withdrawal on June 30th. He also wants to have more time for his family.

“Xavi wants to finish this project”

After Xavi's meeting with club president Joan Laporta, sports director Deco and Yuste, the vice president emphasized: "Xavi wants to finish this project and we have to support him." The dressing room will fit in very well, said Yuste with a view to the team. which includes the German national players Ilkay Gündogan and Marc-André ter Stegen as well as the former Bundesliga goalscorer Robert Lewandowski.

Xavi will also coach F Barcelona next season. © ANSA / Alejandro Garcia

FC Barcelona, ​​which was in massive financial difficulties, lost 2-3 to arch-rivals Real Madrid last weekend and thus lost its last chance in the title race. In the Champions League there was previously an exit in the quarter-finals against Paris Saint-Germain. According to vice-president Yuste, the club has high hopes for its planned return to the Camp Nou stadium in November, which is currently being renovated.