Laporta Stays Resilient After Xavi’s Departure Announcement
After the darkness of the night comes the light of the day. There is no better saying to define Joan Laporta. The Barcelona president continues with optimism after Xavi informed him on Saturday night that he will leave the club at the end of the season. Following this “unexpected” news, the club released a statement on its official platforms, defending its current coach and conveying a message of reassurance.
Full club statement: “Xavi informed me yesterday that he would leave at the end of the season, but he wanted to finish it. It’s a formula I accept because it’s Xavi – honest, dignified, loves Barça, and is a legend. I know he will be committed. LaLiga is challenging but not lost; I don’t rule out winning it. We must give our all to win the Champions League, with more commitment, more character, and by giving everything, we can achieve some of the goals we have set. The situation is not pleasant for anyone, and unity is needed at this moment. The club is socially and economically controlled. Things are not going well in sports. We come from a season where we won LaLiga and improved the squad, so expectations are not being met. I want to send a message to the culés: it’s a complicated season; we had to go to Montjuïc, but we’ll be back at the Spotify Camp Nou in November. I want to thank the fans for yesterday’s attendance at the Estadi, the best of the season, and for the commitment they showed. Keep cheering for Barça against Osasuna. The fans show that they love Barça. With the support of the fans, we can turn the situation around, but we need your support.”
On Sunday morning, the Barcelona president arrived at Ciutat Esportiva just before 11 a.m., accompanied by Enric Masip. Xavi arrived shortly after and was the first member of the first team to attend the club’s training facilities. Soon after, the rest of the club’s sports commission members – Rafa Yuste, Deco, Bojan Krkic, and Joan Soler – arrived. Two hours after his arrival, President Laporta left Ciutat Esportiva, where dozens of fans had gathered to applaud him and take photos.
