Next Monday in the sports city of FC Barcelona, ??a decisive summit will be held to define the future of the bench. The meeting is, according to official sources of the club, “a usual technical meeting at the end of the season to analyze it, make notes and plan the next one”. But it is not lost on anyone that this summit comes after the doubts that have once again been presented to President Joan Laporta with the continuity of Xavi Hernández a month after he was ratified. This time, president and coach will not be alone as happened on the night of April 24, when they met at Laporta’s home. Xavi will be accompanied by his brother and second coach, Òscar Hernández. Maybe also Sergio Alegre, third member of the staff. With President Laporta there will be several members of the sports commission. For sure the sports director, Deco, the vice-president, Rafa Yuste, and the football coordinator, Bojan Krkic. It still needs to be decided whether the manager responsible for grassroots football, Joan Soler, and Enric Masip, Laporta’s advisor, will also be there. The presence of Alejandro Echevarría, the president’s right-hand man, is also likely.
John Laporta
President of FC Barcelona
It was difficult for Joan Laporta to bet on Xavi Hernández. His link with the election candidate Víctor Font slowed him down. He had always dreamed of getting Guardiola back and his first alternative was the German school, with candidates like Julian Nagelsmann. However, after dismissing Ronald Koeman and faced with the club’s complicated situation, he let himself be advised above all by the sporting vice-president, Rafa Yuste, and chose Egarenc. President and coach have a very good relationship and have always boasted about it. Although he appreciates Xavi, Laporta did not like the coach’s realistic speech nor was he convinced by the team’s play. He also didn’t like Xavi’s deferred resignation in January to the point of admitting to RAC1 that, if it weren’t for Xavi, he would never have accepted it. He did not travel to Almeria and, in principle, he will not go to Seville either.
Xavi Hernandez
Coach of FC Barcelona
Considered one of the best midfielders in history and a legend of Barcelona, ??Xavi arrived in November 2022 when Barça was ninth in the League. He finished second. Last season he won the League and the Super Cup. However, this season, which was presented as ideal for revalidating titles and playing better, has ended in a blank. Xavi ran into a short squad and a plague of injuries. Still, he wants to fulfill his contract. Firing him and his staff has a cost of around 15 million euros.
Deco
Sports director
It arrived in June. He settled in Barcelona and began working alongside Mateu Alemany, the then director of football. In those early days he even met at his home with Xavi to plan the season. But it wasn’t until mid-August when the club made his arrival official. On September 2, Mateu Alemany, invited by Laporta, also left. Deco had a special involvement in the signing of Vitor Roque, who however has not entered Xavi’s plans. Next Monday at the Deco summit he will be the one to present an evaluation report for the season.
Rafael Yuste
Sports vice president
Entrepreneur and stalwart of Laporta. Yuste was already a manager in the current president’s first term between 2005 and 2008 and sports vice-president between 2008 and 2010. He is also Xavi’s great supporter. In this sense it was key for Laporta to agree to ratify Xavi on sushi night.
Oscar Hernandez
Second coach
The career of the eldest Hernández on the benches has been linked to that of Xavi. He accompanied him to Qatar, first working for the Aspire Academy while Xavi was a footballer for Al-Sadd and then joining his staff to manage the Qatari team.
Bojan Krkic
Coordinator of the football area
The ex-footballer arrived in mid-August. He is Deco’s main assistant. His job is to monitor Barcelona’s loanees and evaluate grassroots players and coaches.
Enrique Masip
President’s Advisor
Former handball player, one of the club’s most awarded players, today he is the president’s sports advisor. Masip is one of the critical voices with Xavi Hernández, although in recent games he has been seen congratulating the coach.
John Soler
Responsible del football base
He was president of Vilafranca, a Third Division team. He was also responsible for the sports area of ??Jordi Farré’s pre-candidacy, which did not pass the signature cut.
Alejandro Echevarria
Right hand of the president
Person of high ancestry of the president without official position within the club.
