FC Barcelona has made a 180° turn. Ultimately, it is not Xavi who will lead the first team next season, despite what was publicly announced to the press at the end of April. The management made an about-face after the Catalan’s comments which presented a rather worrying state of the club’s finances. She prematurely ended the contract (2025) of the former midfielder to hand over the reins of the locker room to Hans-Dieter Flick, as had been anticipated for several days. The news has just been made official by the club.
Flick signed for two seasons. “FC Barcelona and coach Hansi Flick have reached an agreement for the German to become the coach of the Barça first team until June 30, 2026. The new FC Barcelona coach signed his contract within the offices of the club, in the presence of President Joan Laporta, the Vice-President Responsible for Sport Rafa Yuste and the Sports Director, Deco.reveals the press release. “Culers, this is our moment. Force Barça!” declares the native of Heidelberg in Catalan. The presence of Pini Zahavi in the operation, agent of the coach and close to Joan Laporta, made things easier.
A lot of uncertainty surrounds the first team
The German, once announced by Bayern Munich where he still has numerous contacts, had made Barça his priority for the rest of his career. He is almost at a crossroads, having achieved everything during the time he managed the Bavarian club (2019-2021). Arriving in a time of crisis, he nevertheless concluded his first season with an incredible sextuplet (Bundesliga, German Cup, German Super Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup), making Bayern a amazing team. Barça still remembers the 8-2 inflicted in the C1 quarter-final.
It’s up to Flick to achieve the same thing with the Blaugrana. The situation will not be simple. The 59-year-old technician remains in failure with the German selection, eliminated in the first round of the World Cup in Qatar. The team he will find in Catalonia risks moving this summer between the uncertainties around certain executives like Lewandowski, Araujo or even De Jong. He will also have to make do with the means at hand, particularly financial as Barça has been in difficulty in this area for several seasons. This is also (a little) what cost Xavi his place. Hansi Flick is warned.
