Just days after being dismissed by Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez is reportedly in high demand. The iconic midfielder, who concluded the 2023-24 season with a roller-coaster performance, managed Barcelona to a quarterfinal appearance in the UEFA Champions League and secured a second-place finish in La Liga. Despite these achievements, conflicts with the club’s president and key members led to his untimely sacking, shortly after he had committed to another season with the Catalan giants.
Recent reports, including those from journalist Pedro Almeida, suggest that Xavi is now being considered for a managerial role at a Premier League club. Chelsea, having mutually agreed to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino after finishing sixth in the league, are purportedly keen to start discussions with Xavi about leading the team in the upcoming season.
Barcelona’s Coaching Carousel and Xavi’s Commitment
The 2021 Champions League victors have been associated with potential new managers, including Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank, Kieran McKenna, and Enzo Maresca. Concurrently, Xavi announced midseason his intention to leave Barcelona after the current campaign. Despite efforts from the club to retain him, he initially decided to depart but later reversed his decision, agreeing to honor his contract.
Nevertheless, Xavi later expressed concerns over the club’s financial difficulties and predicted challenges against other European powerhouses in the upcoming season. These remarks reportedly upset Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta and other club officials.
During his tenure, Xavi managed 142 games, securing 90 wins, 23 draws, and 29 losses, and notably led Barcelona to a La Liga title in his first full season as manager.
Xavi Expresses Disappointment on Departure
The 44-year-old expressed his disappointment as he departs from the club, feeling undervalued despite ending the season with a 2-1 victory at Sevilla on Sunday.
“I feel like everything I’ve done over these two and a half years has caused upheaval. I’ve often been the target in many situations,” Xavi stated.
He reflected on the lack of appreciation for his efforts, noting, “This year, we didn’t measure up due to minor details. There were four critical games where we failed to capitalize on our hard work.”
