Xavi decides to stay at Barcelona

Barcelona legend Xavi has changed his mind about leaving the club at the end of the season and has reportedly signed a contract extension till 2025.

According to Spanish media, the Barcelona manager made the decision after meeting club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco.

Xavi’s decision comes just a week after Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

And on Sunday, the defending La Liga Champions fell 11 points behind toppers Real Madrid following a 3-2 Clasico defeat to their bitter rivals.

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi said he felt “liberated” when he made his decision to stand down.

He had repeatedly said the job was his “dream” but admitted the pressure of the role eventually proved too much.

“You are made to feel every day that you are not good enough,” he said after a shock 5-3 home loss to Villarreal.  “It happened to all the coaches: Pep (Guardiola) told me, it happened to (Ernesto) Valverde, I saw Luis Enrique suffer.”

Financial crisis-hit Barcelona signed Xavi back in November 2021.

But this season they were also thrashed 4-1 by Real in the Spanish Super Cup and were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao.

“The announcement liberated me on a personal level,” he said in January. “From June 30 I will not continue as Barca coach … as a Barca fan, I think the club needs a change of dynamic.”