Xavi has done a lot for Barcelona, both as a player and as a manager. As a player, he won everything with them and is one of their best players ever. As a manager, he came at one of their worst periods and delivered not only stability to them but also two important trophies, including La Liga.
However, after a poor season so far, much criticism was laid on him and he finally made the decision to leave the club on his own accord. But the club is not ready to let go of him yet and is working to convince him to stay.
Is Xavi staying at Barcelona beyond this season?
Xavi has repeatedly said that he was serious about leaving the club, despite many of the club’s members wishing him to stay. The club has shown no real interest in pursuing a new manager despite a lot of options on the market, and figures like Joan Laporta, Deco, and Rafa Yuste have publicly said that Xavi should stay.
The club’s recent performances have also been very good, and it looks like things are again going in the right direction. Many fans of the club are also asking the manager to stay, and it looks like the Spaniard himself may indeed decide to reverse his decision to leave. However, he would need some guarantees from the club with two important transfer decisions.
🚨| Barcelona, right now, are not progressing in negotiations with any manager and their priority is to keep waiting for Xavi. [@TheAthletic] #fcblive pic.twitter.com/j0M6aQ0jkF
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) April 2, 2024
Spanish media Mundo Deportivo has said that Xavi wants a pivot and a creative midfielder to join the club ahead of the next season. He previously wanted Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi or Bayern Munich superstar Joshua Kimmich for the pivot position and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva as the creative midfielder.
However, the club were understandably unable to make those transfers due to their poor financial situation. But it looks like they may attempt to try those again to convince Xavi to stay for next season. And he may be willing to stay on if the two transfers are guaranteed to him.
How does Erling Haaland fit into Barcelona’s plan to convince Xavi?
Barcelona also have another plan to convince Xavi to stay at the club. They are ready to bring in Erling Haaland to the club, but not for the next season. Instead, they will attempt to sign him in 2025, when the club would have better finances and the player’s contractual release clause can be activated.
🚨 Barcelona will target Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in 2025 as part of a signings strategy that they hope will convince Xavi to stay beyond this season.
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) April 3, 2024
(Source: Mundo Deportivo) pic.twitter.com/2uqyP41JXH
The club were indeed interested in sign Haaland before he joined City in 2022. The player was interested in joining Barcelona and had the blessing of Xavi as well. But due to the club’s inability to spend much, they were unable to do so. But it now looks like they have a real possibility to do so in 2025, as the agent of Haaland has met Barcelona’s sporting director Deco recently.
The club would need to make some big player sales if they were to make all these signings happen. For now, Barcelona will focus on it’s next game against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarterfinals next Wednesday.
