Xavi Hernández to Leave Barcelona at the end of the season

Catalonia, 

Saturday, 27 January, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has announced he will part ways with the club at the end of the current campaign.

“I will leave Barcelona in June”.Xavi said after a post-match interview after a 5-3 defeat home to Villarreal on Saturday. 

Xavi says that he had spoke to the club's board of directors on the decision before the match. 

“We have reached a point of no return. It's time for change. As a Culé, I think that it's time to leave

I spoke with the board and the club today. I will leave on the 30th of June”. Xavi added. 

The defeat to Villarreal saw Barcelona trailing ten points off La Liga leaders Real Madrid and eight from Catalan neighbours Girona.

It was a result which added to the 4-1 Spanish Supercopa final defeat to Real Madrid earlier this month and comes days after Barcelona exited the Copa del Rey following a quarter-final loss at Athletic Bilbao.

“I took this decision days ago. I already knew it. But it’s time to make it public.

“I think the players could not free themselves up. I don’t want to be a problem for the club, but the opposite.”

Xavi added: “Right now, if I think with my head and think about the club, the solution and the best thing is for me to leave in June, that is how I feel.

“We have just agreed that with the president (Joan Laporta). We have a president who is brilliant. Him, Rafa Yuste, (sporting director), Deco…everyone is really capable.

“I think this decision will help unblocking the team and the mood in here.

“I just told the president Laporta now. We’ve had a meeting, it was a very human conversation, just with common sense. The trust from them is still fantastic.

“But I believe this is the moment to say this. I don’t make my decisions following money, my contract will never be a problem.

“I just make my choices following my heart. I don’t need anything more.”

Xavi revealed that he had not told his squad before making his announcement to the media on Saturday evening.

“It’s a cruel job, it wears you down,” Xavi added.

“In Barcelona you always feel like you’re not valued, you’re mistreated — that’s how the club works.

“From a mental health level, it’s tough too.

“I’m a positive guy but the battery levels keep running out — and at some point, you realise there’s no point in staying.”

The former Barcelona midfielder also revealed that he was not in the position to replicate sir Alex Ferguson's Sucess at Manchester united in Barcelona where he said the job was much difficult. 

Xavi: “You asked me many times that if I'd be the Sir Alex Ferguson of Barça... the truth is that it will NEVER happen here”.

“You guys won't allow it — being Barça coach is so difficult”.

“You see how they kill you, they criticize you, it affects you”.Xavi said. 

As a player, he made 767 appearances for Barcelona a — only Messi (778) has more — Xavi initially joined Qatari club Al Sadd in 2015 before being appointed their manager in 2019, winning the nation’s league title in 2021.

Xavi, 44, was appointed as Barcelona managed in November 2021 as the permanent successor to Ronald Koeman, and guided the club to the title in La Liga in his first full season in charge of the club.

Xavi also guided Barcelona to the Spanish Supercopa last season, but a drop off in performances and results this season ensures he will not continue beyond June 30, despite having signed a new contract through to 2025, with the option of an additional year, in September 2023.