What a twist! While Xavi and FC Barcelona had already made an about-face three weeks ago, finally announcing the retention of the coach for next season after having communicated his departure on January 27, the 44-year-old technician is indeed going pack up after this exercise. As unlikely as it may seem, management did not at all appreciate his recent comments on the club’s poor finances and decided to part ways with him after the 38th day.
“I simply said the economic situation of the club is not the best…” Xavi defended himself at a press conference yesterday after the Blaugrana’s success in Almeria (2-0). Since this morning, the astonishing information has made headlines in the media in Spain. This umpteenth turnaround in the situation, as unexpected as ever, will undoubtedly be confirmed at the next board meeting. Laporta is furious with his coach and asked Deco to look for a successor to Xavi on the bench for next season.
An in-house solution?
A mission that is both simple and delicate. Barça does not have great resources to afford a new coach. This is also one of the arguments put forward for Xavi’s initial retention. On the other hand, the Portuguese sporting director has probably not thrown away his short list of potential coaches created a few weeks ago. It is in this piece of paper that the identity of the future Catalan technician is probably found. He may even already be at the club since RAC 1 makes Rafa Marquez the big favorite.
Former player of the club, connoisseur of the mysteries of the club and its DNA, the coach of the reserve is seen as the best able to ensure the future. For the second year in a row, the Mexican managed to take Barça Atlètic into the play-off for promotion to the Second Division. Another argument, he would not cost much in salary, less than his competitors Hansi Flick and Sergio Conceiçao, according to Sport. Free, the German was already mentioned in the spring, like the Portuguese who extended until 2028 last April in Porto but who risks leaving after the change of presidency.
