As Barcelona sacks Xavi on Friday, the drama surrounding Joan Laporta’s presidency of the membership continues to return underneath fireplace. The previous star midfielder was knowledgeable of the choice throughout a gathering with membership president Joan Laporta on Friday. Additionally current on the summit had been 5 different key figures on the Spanish facet, together with sporting director Deco.
Xavi now departs the staff regardless of compiling a strong 63% win price and gathering the 2022/23 LaLiga title. The coach, nevertheless, endured a reasonably troublesome 2023/24 season. The Catalan membership dropped as little as fourth within the top-flight desk again in December. Because of the disappointing show, Xavi beforehand revealed in January that he would go away on the finish of the marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, Barcelona rapidly went on a prolonged unbeaten run following the announcement. Getting again on observe made Laporta publicly plea for Xavi to rethink his earlier choice and stay with the membership. Xavi lastly agreed to the reversal simply final month. Nevertheless, Laporta has now U-turned Xavi’s U-turn and fired the supervisor with one match remaining on the schedule.
Spanish facet beforehand mishandled membership legends underneath Laporta
The Xavi debacle is hardly the lone occasion of mistreatment of the membership’s icons by the membership’s brass. Laporta beforehand promised Lionel Messi a brand new contract forward of the 2021/22 season. The famous person was prepared and keen to stick with the staff the place he spent his complete senior profession. Because of the promise, Messi publicly backed Laporta throughout the 2021 Barcelona presidential election.
With the assistance of Messi and different key supporters, Laporta received the election with practically 55% of the votes. The closest competitor to Laporta had a closing tally of slightly below 30%. Laporta succeeded Josep Maria Bartomeu within the prestigious place. Nonetheless, Laporta reneged on his a part of the deal and in the end advised Messi that the membership couldn’t afford to maintain the famous person. The Argentine attacker then finally signed with Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent.
Just some months after the fiasco involving Messi, Laporta sacked supervisor Ronald Koeman unusually. The coach was sacked whereas on a flight along with his complete staff. Barcelona was touring again to the town on the time after a shock defeat to Rayo Vallecano in October of 2021.
With the gamers inside earshot, Laporta knowledgeable Koeman that he was fired from the function. The Dutchman later publicly admitted that he was damage by how the manager made the announcement. Xavi finally changed Koeman on the Camp Nou sidelines.
Sevilla coach brazenly criticizes rivals as Barcelona sacks Xavi
Sevilla supervisor Quique Sanchez mentioned the Xavi scenario throughout a press convention on Friday. The coach referenced the opposite mistreatments by Laporta and insisted that Barca doesn’t know learn how to deal with their former icons.
“I shouldn’t say this… nevertheless it’s dangerous how Barcelona treats its legends,” Sanchez. “What a foul streak. With Koeman, with Messi, with Xavi now, how dangerous. I want golf equipment handled their legends effectively. That may be incredible. That may be a legacy of connection from the managers to the followers. This connects so much. Treating legends effectively.”
With Xavi out, Laporta will now flip to Hansi Flick. The German supervisor will quickly enter the fray to grow to be Barcelona’s subsequent supervisor on a two-year deal. Flick beforehand discovered success at Bayern Munich earlier than a disappointing spell with the Germany nationwide staff. The coach is ready to first lead his new membership throughout a preseason summer season tour of america.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
Loading…