Xavi-Barcelona, new installment in the soap opera

Xavi-Barcelona, new installment of the soap opera

Yet another twist for Xavi’s future on the Barcelona bench, resoundingly back in doubt.

According to Catalan radio station Rac1, President Joan Laporta has decided to exonerate the coach after statements made during the 2-0 away win last night at the field of last-place Almeria: Xavi who stressed the difficulties of competing with Real Madrid in Spain and other big European clubs in the Champions League next season because of Barcelona’s financial problems.

Words indigestible to the president, also because only a few weeks ago Laporta had confirmed Xavi for next season, convinced by the great ambitions of the coach, who during this year had announced his farewell at the end of the season, only to change his mind. Now to change his mind seems to be the Catalan club.

Before the turnaround, Xavi’s name had also been approached to the benches of Ajax and Milan, which have meanwhile diverted their attentions respectively to the Italian Francesco Farioli of Nice and the Portuguese Paulo Fonseca (former Roma) of Lille.