Xavi's exit spells bad news for Barcelona legend

James Shearman

• Updated: 10 Feb 2024 22:36 GMT
• 3 min read

Sergi Roberto could follow head coach Xavi out of the door at Barcelona at the end of the season.

Xavi has made it clear that he would keep Roberto at Camp Nou if it were up to him.

However, with the Spaniard leaving at the end of the season, those sorts of decisions are out of his hands.

This could mean that Roberto, who has been with the Catalan club since 2006, making well over 200 appearances, could be moving on soon.

His contract is up at the end of the 2023-24 campaign and there have not been talks over a renewal.

"I don't know," Xavi said about Roberto's future in Saturday's press conference. "I have given my recommendation to the club, which is to renew his deal.

"He is an important player in the dressing room, one of the captains, and is also delivering on the pitch. He has been important when available and always performed at a good level.

"That's my recommendation to club, but it also down to personal decisions from the players, like happened with [Sergio] Busquets and Jordi Alba."

Who will replace Xavi?

Fabrizio Romano has provided some clarity regarding Barcelona's ongoing search for a new head coach.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: "Antonio Conte offered to Barcelona as a new manager? From what I'm told, it's something not real, not true. At the moment, there is nothing ongoing between Barcelona and Antonio Conte."

"Thiago Motta, mentioned for weeks as a potential candidate for the Barcelona job, is not in the frame for Barca. He's going to stay in Italy and work in Italy next season from what I'm told."

"What I'm told is that Hansi Flick would be super happy to join Barca. So, he's really tempted by the possibility and Hansi Flick is super open about the Barca job, but it's on Barca. Barca have to decide - [Joan] Laporta, Deco, all the people at the club - who is the manager they want and, at the moment, they still have not made a decision."