Xavi has no regrets about leaving Barcelona despite recent rebound

Stuart Telford

• 25 Feb 2024 16:24 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona are undefeated in five games since Xavi announced he would be leaving at the end of the season, but there would appear to be little chance of a change of heart from the club legend.

Xavi announced that he would step down as manager after Barca were beaten 5-3 by Villarreal last month, the feeling that he jumped before he was pushed.

But they have since closed the gap to La Liga leaders and Clasico rivals Real Madrid to a provisional five points, winning four and drawing two of their five games since.

The most recent of those was a 4-0 win over Getafe on Saturday, in which Raphinha, Joao Felix, Frenkie de Jong and Fermin Lopez scored, and Xavi was asked after it whether he regretted his decision.

Xavi: 'the correct call'

"No, the opposite," came his emphatic reply. "I think it's absolutely the correct call. The team have stepped forward since I made it and the players have shown level they have, and in recent games.

"I'm really grateful the fans chant my name, but I'm convinced my decision is the correct one for the club. The fans have always been on my side and, from the heart, I really appreciate it."

Xavi and Barca remain hamstrung in the transfer market, more than €1 billion in the red despite restructuring their debt.

They were reduced to free transfers and loans last summer - the means by which Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Cancelo respectively arrived at Camp Nou - whilst spending just €3.4 million in bringing Oriol Romeu back to the club from Girona.

Barca have yet to confirm who will replace Xavi at the end of the season, but Hansi Flick and Thomas Tuchel, Bayern Munich managers past and present, have both been linked.