Neither the blank season, nor the irregular play nor the defeats received against Madrid, PSG, Girona and even Villarreal. It has not been the results or the grass that has strained the relationship between Joan Laporta and Xavi Hernández more than ever. What can end the Egarense coach’s time on the bench are a few words in the press room.
The coach, consistent with what he saw on the field, said that the intention was to strengthen himself to improve, but that everything was at the expense of the club’s economy. Said like this it seems harmless, but the statements opened the thunder because they angered the president, always a friend of illusion, whether his name is Beckham, Ronaldinho or Levers. Barça has entered a dark alley in which, as of Monday, there are only three exits.
In the absence of spectacular comebacks on the field, Barcelona has specialized this season in reconciliations. If they already hugged once in front of all the spotlights, why couldn’t there be a second rapprochement between Xavi and Laporta?
The first reconciliation came on April 24 at President Laporta’s home and was celebrated over a sushi dinner. In the penthouse, Xavi convinced the president, and by extension the sports commission, that he had the strength and enthusiasm necessary to lead Barcelona for the 2024-25 season and that he saw a future for the team.
A month later, the Egarense has one foot outside the club despite having certified second place in the League, the minimum objective that was needed to be in the Arabian Super Cup next January (and the income of six million what that implies).
The president’s anger still lasts a week later, encouraged by some advisors, but both protagonists have known each other and been friends since 2003 and have lived great moments. In the event that Xavi, who is hanging by a thread, were ratified, it would be necessary to see if it is a marriage of convenience like that of Koeman –hired by Bartomeu–, which did not go well.
Xavi has one more year on his contract after the renewal he signed after winning the 2022-23 League. That is to say, you have to reach an agreement, more or less friendly, with the coach and his coaching staff. The cost of a dismissal is 15 million. Xavi has always said that he would never be a problem, but it remains to be seen how he is digesting these last few days of a certain lack of attention and long talks with the president, who for his part wants to make an extensive assessment. Another thing is that all of his assistants could claim compensation from him.
If an economic agreement is finally reached, the club will put all its efforts into searching for a replacement for the bench. The low cost option is the promotion of Rafa Márquez, currently in the reserve team. Thus, Laporta could repeat the movement that in 2008 brought Guardiola to the Camp Nou bench. At the moment, the Mexican, who is also out of contract, is fighting to go up to Second. Hansi Flick, represented by Pini Zahavi, is without a team since he was fired from the Germany national team in September 2023, but his great endorsement is the six titles (all) that he won with Bayern in 2020. Finally, a Former player like Thiago Motta has been a revelation coach in Italy with Bologna, but Juventus also wants him.
For Barcelona’s economy, shivering because the new Nike contract or the millions for Barça Studios have not arrived, it would be difficult to pay for an entire dismissal and, in addition, hire a new coach. If in the meeting after playing in Seville there is no agreement and the conflict drags on over time, the biggest casualty will be the sports planning for the next season. The team can stand at the threshold of June without knowing who will be the coach next season, just when we have to work on the squad. The future of heavyweights is up in the air because the club needs to undertake one, two or three important sales. The ideal would be for the bench’s tenant to be able to give his opinion of the players he will have.