- Xavi has reportedly decided to stay on in his role as Barcelona head coach
- The 44-year-old previously announced he was leaving his post in the summer
- Nottingham Forest have been stripped bare of their sympathy after three ropey decisions – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
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Barcelona manager Xavi has sensationally U-turned on his decision to leave the club at the end of the season and will now continue in his role, according to reports.
The Spaniard had previously rejected calls to change his mind but has now decided to extend his stay after a meeting with the club’s directors.
Positive discussions with Barcelona president Joan Laporta has resulted in Xavi accepting the LaLiga side’s proposal and will continue to operate as head coach, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
Xavi guided Barca to a first LaLiga title of his tenure last season but have struggled to replicate their domestic success this year as Real Madrid race ahead at the top of the table.
The club’s difficult financial situation has put pressure on new signings to perform and a difficult run of form at the turn of the year convinced Xavi he wanted to leave Barcelona.
Announcing his original intentions to depart the Nou Camp, Xavi said in January following a 5-3 defeat against Villarreal: ‘‘I’ll go even if we win the Champions League.
‘I decided it some time ago,’ he said of his decision to give up on the possibility of staying on beyond the end of the season.
‘People talk about there being a (Sir Alex) Ferguson at Barcelona but that is impossible at this club,’ he added in a bizarre post-match press conference hinting at a sense of being treated harshly despite leading Barcelona to the league title last season.
‘The feeling of being a Barça coach is cruel, unpleasant and unpleasant one,’ he said. ‘There is a lot of disrespect and it affects you, until it leads to a decision like this one.’
Barcelona continued to make repeated attempts for the former Spain World Cup and European Championship to stick around but appeared resigned to defeat as they began to shortlist potential successors.
Recent elimination from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Paris Saint-Germain and a 3-2 defeat in the El Clasico against arch rivals Real Madrid were thought to have only further cemented Xavi’s departure.
The news comes as a huge relief for Barca supporters who have watched their club struggle in recent seasons but enjoy some silverware success under Xavi’s watch.
The club legend who enjoyed serial European and domestic success as a player at Barcelona will now continue in his role as manager.
