Sports
Barcelona Sacks Xavi As First Team Manager
Spanish football giant, Barcelona has announced the sacking of its head coach, Xavi Hernández.
At a meeting on Friday at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, confirmed that Xavi will seize to be the club’s manager in the upcoming 2024-25 season.
“The meeting happened at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and was also attended by sporting vice-president Rafa Yuste, director of sport Anderson Luís de Souza, Deco, Xavi, Òscar Hernández and Sergio Alegre.
“FC Barcelona wishes to thank Xavi for his work as coach, as well as for his inimitable career as a player and as team captain, and wishes him every future success in the world,” an official statement from the club reads.
Nation Post understands that Xavi Hernández’s final match as coach will take place this Sunday against Sevilla, as confirmed by FC Barcelona.
Barcelona is expected to reveal the new first-team structure in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski has indicated his intention to stay with the La Liga club for the upcoming season. He expressed his desire to help his team achieve success and win trophies.
Lewandowski made the switch from Bayern Munich to Barcelona in 2022 for a reported fee of approximately 43 million euros. The deal is scheduled to run until June 2026. During his time at the club, he played a key role in securing the league title last season and also contributed to their victory in the Spanish Super Cup.
In his debut season, the Polish striker finished as the league’s leading goal scorer, netting 23 goals. During Barcelona’s ongoing season without silverware, he has scored 18 goals.
There have been increased doubts surrounding Lewandowski’s continuation at the club, particularly following manager Xavi’s initial declaration of departure in January, which was later rescinded in April.
Barcelona is facing economic difficulties, challenges with a high wage bill, and a 1.6 billion euro renovation project at the Camp Nou stadium. These factors have heightened financial pressures on the club in the current season.
“Of course, for me, it is super clear. I want to win many titles with Barcelona, and I am sure that next season we will be even stronger and we will also win titles,” Lewandowski told Mundo Deportivo on Wednesday when asked about rumours of a potential exit.
“I always want the best, not just for me but for my teammates, and I am sure that this team will win titles next season because I see what we do each day. For me, that is what matters because this is a club that I hold close to my heart and I want to give a lot for the team and the club.”
Xavi said earlier in May, “We value Robert’s presence in the team very much and we will decide on his future at the end of the season.”
Barcelona is second in La Liga, 12 points behind newly crowned champions Real Madrid. They face Sevilla in their final game of the season on Sunday.
