Following Barcelona sporting director Deco commenting that he wants Xavi to stay at the club, president Joan Laporta has doubled down on the rumours.
On January 27, in his press conference after a humiliating 5-3 LaLiga defeat to Villarreal, Xavi announced that he will leave the club on June 30.
Since then, things have drastically improved, with Barca’s performances increasing in quality, progressing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and reducing the gap to LaLiga leaders Real Madrid to eight points from 13.
Xavi has credited his decision with the upturn in form, saying it’s freed his players, who can now focus on their game rather than the manager.
Yet despite intending to walk away, Deco and Laporta both have other thoughts.
President Laporta said: “We didn’t talk about it. I have already told him that coaches all want to come to Barça, but we are not making moves yet.
“I’ve receive proposals from all sides, and I have said it to Xavi: ‘We respect the fact that you are here until the end of the season. It has been your decision. We’re doing well, we’re getting better and better. Look, since you said it, that’s it, you’ve won again.
“We wink at each other as if to say something could happen here. But it goes on like this, things are going better and the objectives are achieved.”
Asked if he would keep Xavi if it was up to him, Laporta answered: “Yes, yes, yes, yes, he already knows it.
“I would like him to continue, but I already told him at the time, when he said about the pressure, that here we are always under pressure.
“I asked him if there was a way he could change his mind but I saw him with an insurmountable pressure that was visible on his face, so I told him to relax if he saw it that way.
“He keeps saying that at the end of the season he would leave as we have agreed, but we’ll see.
“Let’s not put that pressure on ourselves because at the moment being with this formula works.”
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