Xavi Hernandez’s Retribution: Recalling the ‘Bufón de Europa’ Episode

The pressure on Xavi Hernandez as the coach of FC Barcelona is well-known, and during moments of intense tension, the passionate Culé finds it challenging to hold back. After eliminating Napoli, Xavi took a moment to address a specific journalist, Ramón Besa, referring to his match report following Barcelona’s loss to Shakhtar Donetsk. The coach’s pointed comment, “What do we do now with the jester of the Champions?” was a direct response to Besa’s earlier characterization of Barcelona as ‘the jester of Europe.’

The rift between Xavi and Besa dates back to the Champions League group stage match where Shakhtar Donetsk secured a 1-0 victory over Barcelona, with Besa titling his post-match report, “Barça, defeated by Shakhtar, is the jester of Europe.” In this scathing piece, the journalist criticized Barcelona’s performance against a supposedly inferior opponent affected by war.

Xavi Hernández had saved this particular text and chose the opportune moment to address it – after Barcelona secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2023/24 Champions League, meeting the club’s minimum financial and sporting objectives for the season.

In the aftermath of the Barcelona-Napoli clash, Ramón Besa, who is also a regular commentator on ‘El Larguero,’ shared insights on the origin of Xavi’s words. Besa revealed that Xavi had previously sent him several WhatsApp messages, expressing his discontent with the article. The coach accused Besa of having a malicious tone and occasionally displaying ill-will.

Besa clarified that, in his response to Xavi, he questioned whether the coach had read the entire article, emphasizing that the ‘jester of Europe’ remark wasn’t specifically directed at Xavi’s Barcelona. The full text of Besa’s report indicated a broader context, connecting the Shakhtar defeat to Barcelona’s struggles in recent Champions League campaigns, rather than solely targeting Xavi’s current team.

This behind-the-scenes exchange sheds light on the complex relationship between coaches and the media, highlighting how tensions can simmer and surface in moments of triumph or adversity on the football pitch.