The reason Xavi Hernández changed his mind to stay as Barcelona head coach

Xavi had been due to leave Barça at the end of the season, but the Champions League exit to PSG prompted a U-turn.

Xavi Hernández has reversed his decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the season and will continue as the head coach of the LaLiga giants in 2024/25. The U-turn has been confirmed at meeting between club bosses after the 44-year-old had said on 27 January he would be leaving the club on 30 June following a tough run of results.

After talks with the sports director Deco and later with Barça president Joan Laporta at his private residence, an agreement has reportedly been reached. Xavi, who had earlier hinted that he would only stay on if certain conditions were met, has ended up accepting those put on the table by the club.

President Laporta is expected to make an official statement in the media on Thursday confirming Xavi will be continuing as head coach until his contract expires in 2025.

The big questions on Wednesday night surround the conditions under which Xavi has agreed to continue, with speculation that Barça have made demands regarding his the coaching staff.

The name of Domènec Torrent, a former assistant to Pep Guardiola at Camp Nou, is one of several that have linked with a role at the club next season. His arrival could see Óscar Hernández, Xavi’s brother, and Sergio Alegre being removed from their current positions as assistant coaches. There are also suggestions club management would like a new fitness coach put in place.

As well as Xavi, Deco and Laporta, sports vice president Rafael Yuste, Alejandro Echevarría, the president’s “unofficial” right-hand man, and football coordinator Bojan Krkic were all involved in the meeting, the outcome of which is that Xavi will stay as head coach until