Could Xavi stay at Barcelona next season? Manager refuses to rule out exit

The Catalan club have, over recent weeks, been less and less convincing when asked if Xavi is certain about his decision to leave.

At the press conference following the defeat against Villarreal (3-5) at the Lluís Companys stadium, Xavi Hernández announced that he would be stepping down as FC Barcelona coach on June 30. It was on January 27 and with this decision he hoped to change the team’s form around and relax his players.

The coach felt that they were under a lot of pressure due to the criticism that was coming their way regarding results and style of play. That day, the coach assured that even if his team a trophy at the end of it all, his resignation was unchangeable.

The announcement has achieved its purpose and the blaugrana have reacted by putting together a streak of six wins and two draws, or in other words, 20 points out of a possible 24 in LaLiga and qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League after eliminating Napoli. FC Barcelona are into second having overtaken Girona during the last match day and are already seen as the main candidate to challenge Real Madrid for the title, which is 8 points away with 8 games to go, with El Clásico looming.

Who could replace Xavi next season?

Almost immediately after explaining that he was leaving at the end of the season, speculation about his replacement followed. There was talk of the German route that Joan Laporta is a fan of, with Hansi Flick, Tuchel and Nagelsmann as potential candidates, with Jürgen Klopp the impossible dream.

There was also of the option of Roberto De Zerbi, from Brighton, the manager recommended by Pep Guardiola. The names of Sergio Conceiçao and Thiago Motta also appeared.

However, as the team was improving, doubts surrounding Xavi’s future were growing. The speculation about future coaches were put on the back burner and the idea that Xavi could go back on his decision and stay at Barça to fulfil his contract became more prominent: it remains a question that has not been denied by anyone at the club.

Players blame themselves for Xavi’s departure

The clearest person, in this sense, is Xavi himself, who has assured that he has not changed his decision but gives his opinion “right now” instead of in general. Many of the players, such as Ter Stegen, Gündogan, Sergi Roberto, Fermín and Lewandowski, are not happy with their coach’s decision and have taken joint responsibility for his resignation.

Of all those involved, it is the club that seem to leave the door open to Xavi’s continuity. Deco himself has publicly assured that he would be willing to talk to Xavi if he decides to stay. “We have said from the beginning that Xavi did not renew until 2026 because he did not want to. There is no doubt about it. We are not going to be talking about this every game.”

“Xavi is very positive and we are very much aligned. We don’t have to talk about the future,” the sporting director said. “I sign to win the Champions League and have Xavi stay,” he said in an interview with SER radio in Spain. Someone who gave a more forceful opinion was the club’s vice-president, Rafa Yuste, just after eliminating Napoli. “I respect Xavi and his decision. He knows what I think and let’s see what happens,” he said. And when asked about his preferences, he replied: “I like Xavi Hernández a lot. And the truth is that the club has not yet begun serious negotiations with any other coach.”

“We are attentive but we have not made any moves. There have been no negotiations,” Deco maintains. In recent days, Gerard Piqué has argued that Xavi could end up staying. “I don’t think Xavi’s decision is one hundred percent. Let’s see, I think he will stay. I don’t talk to him every day, but we have spoken several times”.