Xavi Announced FC Barcelona Departure Despite Joan Laporta’s Refusal to ‘Accept His Resignation’: Reports

The time is up for Xavi at FC Barcelona. Amidst a run of poor performances in the season so far, the Spanish tactician himself announced that he would be departing after the culmination of the 2023–24 campaign. Although Xavi’s sudden statement caused some surprise, sources suggest that Joan Laporta was far from ready to accept the manager’s resignation, as he ‘trusted him for the project.’

After last season’s success of winning La Liga and the Supercopa de Espana, things went south for the Blaugrana legend, who came in a bid to rewrite his name in Barcelona’s managerial hall of fame. However, as per the renowned journalist Javi Miguel, after Xavi publicly announced his decision to step down as the head coach, the Catalan club’s President Joan Laporta rejected his resignation. 

While speaking on El Chiringuito TV, Miguel revealed that Laporta and Co. had asked the former Al Sadd star not to even disclose the news. Yet, Xavi didn’t heed the management’s orders and poured his heart out following his side’s 5-3 defeat against Villareal in La Liga. The last few weeks saw them receive a double blow, losing the Supercopa de Espana against arch-rivals, Real Madrid and enduring a premature exit from the Copa del Rey by Athletic Club. 

They are still in the UEFA Champions League, facing Napoli in the Round of 16, and are sitting 4th on the league table with 44 points. Either way, it’s sad to see Xavi plan his exit from his beloved club on such a sad note. Notably, aside from poor domestic results, there’s another reason behind Xavi’s exit. 

Deco is suspected to have given Xavi ‘a lack of support’ in FC Barcelona

According to Spanish journalist, Sique Rodriguez, Xavi’s decision to step down stems from a reported disagreement with the club’s sporting director, Deco. The rift appears to be rooted in a perceived ‘lack of support from certain members of the club regarding several projects, notably the transfers.’

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Notably, Deco opposed the signings of players like Joshua Kimmich, Bernardo Silva, and Martin Zubimendi because he was worried about the club’s financial viability, despite Xavi’s approval. Barcelona’s financial difficulties made Xavi feel limited, while Deco’s criticism brought to light his shortcomings as a manager. An already complex problem was made much more convoluted by the board of directors’ intervention.

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