FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez is finishing his two and a half years on the Barça bench, but he declared on Sunday evening that in his eyes, his project was not finished.
President Joan Laporta’s sudden change of heart on Xavi has been attributed to some of his press conference words, but there have also been many disagreements over team planning. According to ESPN, Xavi did not want Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo, nor Robert Lewandowski or Vitor Roque in his plans for next season. He considers them extravagances from Laporta.
RadioMarca confirms this information and local journalist Emilio Perez de Rozas gives an overview of the differences of opinion that have made the atmosphere difficult at the Ciutat Esoprtiva.
“ Xavi changes his mind after the famous “sushi dinner” and begins to see that the changes he wants to make to the team are not well received and that Laporta is throwing them at him like darts. During this dinner, they agree that he will present a solid front for next season, but Xavi qualifies his position and says that adjustments are necessary: he does not want Lewandowski or Joao Felix. In both cases, these are extravagances from Laporta, and when Xavi proposes this, he sees that his wishes will not be granted. »
“Xavi then adds that, if there is a chance, Ronald Araujo and Raphinha should be sold. Then, he stumbles again on the impossibility imposed by Laporta. Xavi wants Nico Williams and Deco prefers Dani Olmo or Luis Diaz. Xavi wants Zubimendi or Kimmich and Laporta is thinking of Guido… You see that in the middle of the season, Deco even offered Lopy, from Almeria. It is therefore in the interval between the ‘Sushi Pact’ and the Almeria announcement that Xavi raises his voice and begins to disagree..
That would certainly make more sense of the sudden change in Laporta’s perspective in the space of a few weeks. He has not yet publicly explained his decision, although Xavi has asked the hierarchy. Laporta or Deco are unlikely to admit that a disagreement over squad planning would have ended Xavi’s tenure, but as long as they remain silent the matter will remain open to speculation.
