Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has repeatedly rejected talk of leaving over the past few days, but few have described the matter as closed, with a meeting scheduled between Xavi and president Joan Laporta at the end of the season.
Xavi has not been officially told anything by the club, and when he met Laporta on Sunday evening, the pair did not discuss his future. While the duo were expected to clear up speculation over their future this week, that meeting has been postponed until next week, according to multiple sources, including Sport. Xavi had requested a meeting on Friday, after growing rumors about the possibility of his dismissal, but Laporta avoided any such meeting. They also say that Xavi is aware that Laporta has decided to sack him despite this.
🚨 Crew members Rafinha, Araujo, De Jong, Oriol Romeu and Marcos Alonso took to the pitch after the match to take pictures with their friends and family members. @jordecardero
— Barca Center (@BarcaCenter) May 19, 2024
It looks as though this could be the end of the road for Xavi, but it's also possible that he has Laporta over the barrel. Conflicting reports indicate that the cost of sacking Xavi and his staff ranges between €12 million and €20 million, a large sum that the struggling Blaugrana will part with. If he does not waive some of his fees, the decision will be more difficult for Laporta. It is still unclear who Xavi's replacement will be, but there are several options leading the way.
