It was decided on Friday. Xavi, 44, will no longer be FC Barcelona coach next season. What remains to be determined, however, and will not fail to cause controversy, is the amount of severance pay for the future ex-Barça coach, who took over from Ronald Koeman on the bench in November 2021.
In theory, the Catalan club should pay €15 million for the departure of Xavi and his staff, even though they had a contract running until the end of next season. According to the Spanish press, half of this amount should go to Xavi, but the managers ardently hope that the emblematic former Blaugrana player renounces receiving all or part of these compensations, in the name of his attachment to the club.
On the other hand, Xavi’s staff will likely receive the other half of the compensation, i.e. €7.5 million.
For the record, FC Barcelona has been going through a fundamental economic crisis in recent seasons, and must therefore submit to financial fair play imposed by La Liga. This provision governs the salary of the coach, in particular.
Ironically, it appears that recent statements from Xavi, relating to the financial situation of the club, are at the origin of his ouster.
At the end of January, the former midfielder said he intended to leave his position at the end of the season, before reversing his decision at the end of April, with the consent of President Joan Laporta. This time, it was the latter who changed his mind, even if it meant contradicting his desire for “stability” within the club.
The fact remains that Xavi will play his last match on the Catalan bench at Sevilla FC in La Liga this Sunday, May 26. Under his leadership, FC Barcelona will have won two trophies in three and a half years, including La Liga in 2023.
To avoid interfering with the Women’s Champions League final between OL and FC Barcelona this Saturday (6 p.m.), the leaders will not communicate the name of Xavi’s successor before the start of next week. However, it is already certain that the one will be the German Hansi Flick, winner in particular of the C1 with Bayern Munich in 2020, who would sign for one season plus another as an option.
