Barcelona manager Xavi could now reportedly be open to staying on at the club despite previously announcing that he would be stepping down at the end of this season.
The Spanish tactician, who remains a legend at the Nou Camp from his playing days as one of the greatest midfielders in European football history, has not had the easiest time in the Barca dugout, despite winning La Liga with the club last season.
This term has been a lot more challenging, and Barcelona’s title hopes are all but over after last night’s 3-2 El Clasico defeat against bitter rivals Real Madrid.
Still, a report from Mundo Deportivo suggests Xavi could be open to a U-turn on his future, with talks set to take place over the 44-year-old potentially staying on for a further year until summer 2025.
The report suggests Xavi still has a good relationship with the Barca board, including key figures Joan Laporta and Deco, so this increasingly looks like a big story to watch out for in the days and weeks ahead.
Xavi to stay – but is this the right decision for Barcelona?
Xavi may well deserve a bit more time to turn things around at Barcelona, but the truth is that there’ll also surely be many fans who feel the club could do with someone better coming in.
There are some top managers out there who are either already available or who soon might be, such as Hansi Flick, Thomas Tuchel and Roberto de Zerbi, while even more ambitious targets like Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso might be worth thinking about, even if they’re perhaps more likely a bit further in the future.
Xavi has done a decent job in his time in charge of Barca, but standards are high at the club, so he’ll need to improve things quickly if he does end up staying on for another season.