Barcelona board vote to SACK Xavi - here is why they can't

Robin Bairner

• 25 Apr 2024 06:37 CDT
• 2 min read

Xavi has strongarmed Barcelona in retaining his position as head coach at the club, despite the La Liga giants' board voting unanimously that he departs, according to reports from Spain.

The legendary midfielder had been scheduled to depart the club at the end of the season having endured a difficult second campaign with the Camp Nou side.

Displaced from their spiritual home to the Olympic stadium in the city, Barca have lost their La Liga table to Real Madrid, suffering three Clasico defeats to their rivals in the process.

Xavi, meanwhile, had said in January that he was ready to leave the club in the summer but the situation has experienced a dramatic U-turn, as FootballTransfers exclusively revealed was a possibility on 5 April.

The 44-year-old is now set to remain in the dugout for another season.

According to RAC1, though, this was not the wish of the Barcelona board and has only come about because the dire financial straits that the club finds itself in.

Jordi Baste reports: “The Barcelona board of directors voted unanimously that Xavi Hernandez should not continue as coach.

“Xavi’s response was that he wanted to collect the money from the remaining year of his contract.

“Given his response and the lack of money the club has, president Joan Laporta decided to allow him to continue.”

Speaking on Wednesday, Laporta denied these claims, stating the Xavi has the "full confidence" of the board.

Complicated political situation

Quite what the repercussions within the club are following this revelation are unclear.

It is evident that Xavi does not have the support of the board, with the possible exception of Laporta, and that even then he will only remain in his post because the club do not wish to sack him.

Certainly, it suggests that money is so tight that the type of signings that Barcelona hope to make in the summer – Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, for example – are likely to be well beyond their reach.