Xavi Hernandez Announces Departure from FC Barcelona, Ending Contract Early

In a surprising turn of events, Xavi Hernandez has made the decision not to continue as the head coach of FC Barcelona beyond June 30, despite having a contract until 2025. The coach revealed this during a press conference following a meeting with President Joan Laporta. The club has rallied around him, and, according to the coach’s statements, an agreement has been reached for him to stay until the end of the season before departing.

Xavi’s announcement during the press conference was as follows: “Before you ask me the pertinent questions, I want to announce that starting from June 30, I will no longer continue as the coach of Barça. I’ve discussed it with Laporta and the sports department, and as a Barça fan, I believe the club needs a change in dynamics. Thinking about the club and the players, I believe they will be liberated and more at ease. Considering my role as a club man, I think it’s best for me to leave on June 30. Having said that, I will give my utmost for the remaining four months. I believe we can have a good season, and I hope the dynamics change. It’s a matter of common sense, and I’ve decided not to continue as the coach of Barça after June 30.”

Xavi elaborated on his decision, stating, “This decision eases the overall situation. I feel the maximum responsibility; things have worked very well, and we’ve done a very good job. However, I believe our project should extend only until June 30. I think it will free up the players and ease the general situation of the club. I’ve had this decision for days, and in a way, I’ve liberated myself. What I see is that it doesn’t free up the situation for the players and the board, and I don’t want to be a burden for the club. I want to be a solution, never a problem. I was a solution two years and three months ago, but now, thinking with my heart and considering the club, for which I want the best, it’s best for me to leave on June 30. I appreciate the president’s trust. We have a fantastic president, both him and Rafa (Yuste) and Alejandro (Echevarría) are very capable, and I think this will ease the situation.”

He revealed that he explained his decision to the president, saying, “I explained it to the president just now; we had a very human conversation. I have great affection for the president, both him and Rafa, Alejandro, Deco… Their trust until today was complete, but now is the moment. I’m not driven by economic situations; I’m driven by the heart, and I believe it’s the best situation for the club. I don’t want to be a problem. We had an utterly unfortunate match, and it’s a moment for a change in direction for the players, who don’t deserve this. It was a blow to see how you lose a game you had come back in; I don’t remember a match as cruel as today’s in my career. We need a change in direction for the good of the club, and this will ease the situation surrounding Barcelona fans.”

Xavi emphasized that he had everything well thought out, stating, “I am usually this calm; there are hardly any inputs that make me nervous. Today, the match situation did. I believe I am doing the best for everyone and selfishly for myself as well. I’ve thought about the club, the president, Deco, but above all, the players who don’t deserve this. I think it’s the best, talking to my wife, my brother, the staff; I think it’s the best. I don’t want to be a problem. The great solution is for me to stop being the coach on June 30. I already said yesterday that I’ve been here for two and a half years, I already said it’s time to evaluate the work. It’s time to change the dynamics, and I announce that I will not continue after June 30.”

He made it clear, saying, “I have energy; it’s not an energy issue; it’s a change of direction issue. I will even give more in these four months. I think we can have a good season; I think we can compete in La Liga, being ten points behind. Today, you’ll criticize me less. After today’s match, being in the position for another year, you would criticize me more. In the first year, they told me I wasn’t a good coach, but it’s not this. It’s the feeling that the club will improve with our departure on June 30.”

Insisting on his decision, he said, “I have the feeling that I am doing the right thing, if that means feeling liberated, so be it. I have the feeling of acting with common sense. The dynamics are very negative, and many times I don’t have an explanation. Today is a 5-2 match, and you lose it 3-5; we need to change the dynamics, and people are here for this. The club is much bigger than individuals; I’m doing it because I’m a Barça fan, and I’ve told the president this way, he got a bit emotional, but he understood. I think it’s necessary to ease the situation.”

Taking a journalist’s reminder of the league and Supercopa de España titles from the last season, Xavi demonstrated that his decision is already having an effect: “We’ve already changed the dynamics because it’s the first time you remember that we won the Supercopa and the League. I had to remind you, and now you remind me with the question. Until now, I had to remind myself. The club needs a change in dynamics; I have no doubt. I told Nuria, Oscar, and the staff, to Edu as well. It’s the best decision I’m making.”

“This will help us.” “We will compete for La Liga and the Champions League.” He affirmed that he would leave on June 30 even if Barcelona conquered the Champions League: “The decision is irrevocable. Yes. I am very rational, very much, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, and we need a change in dynamics. Hopefully