Piqué: “I think Xavi will stay...”

After chatting to the coach about the issue, the former Barça defender has a feeling that Xavi might change his mind. He also praised Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí.

Gerard Piqué knows Xavi Hernández better than most. They were team mates in the best Barça in history, playing 312 games together (only Puyol, Iniesta, Valdés, Busquets and Messi played more) and the current blaugrana coach went on to be his boss until the centre-back decided to hang up his boots on November 2022.

The two have maintained their close relationship and continue talking to each other and discussing club matters. As a result of those conversations, Piqué has come to the conclusion that Xavi may reverse the decision he took in January to step down and continue as coach of the first team.

Barcelona need Xavi

“I don’t think Xavi’s decision is 100 percent... Let’s see, I think it will stay. I don’t speak to Xavi every day, but we have spoken several times,” Piqué exclaimed in an interview with TimesSport. For the former player, Xavi’s continuity would be the best solution, considering the available candidates to replace him. “I want the best for him because I’m sure it will be the best for the club.”

Piqué's words are surprising because in all of his last public appearances Xavi has been quite clear about his future and that the decision to leave on 30 June is irreversible - although it is true that he has always stressed his plan is how it sees things ”today”, perhaps not in three months’ time. In Saturday’s press conference, the coach acknowledged that he is participating in the team planning for next season.

Elsewhere in the interview, Piqué also praised two of the young players who have come through the youth system and are now performing well with the senior side this season - Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí. “In one-on-one I don’t think there is another player who is capable of doing what Lamine does on the field”. Of the defender, he assures that he has “great talent.”