Barcelona president Joan Laporta explains Xavi managerial saga and backs Hansi Flick to get the best out of squad with key Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo transfer decisions made

The Catalan club kept no stone unturned to persuade Xavi to continue at the club until 2025 in the last week of April. However, a few comments to the media regarding Barcelona's feeble financial health and its repercussions on their ability to compete with a robust Real Madrid squad did not go down well with Laporta. Hence the club legend was asked to leave within a month and Flick was installed as his replacement.

Speaking on ‘The President’s Podcast’ on Barça One, Laporta stated: "Xavi told me that he trusted this team, but then some of his statements looked like he changed his speech. It caused me to rethink and I had the feeling that I had to do a change, also with the same feeling shared with the board.

"Xavi did a good job, he took over the team at a time of maximum difficulty. Last year we won the league and the Super Cup, but this year things have not gone well. In February I agreed to let him leave in June because he is a culé and because he also helped us not urgently look for a replacement. Then he asked us to continue and I asked him if he believed in the team and he said yes.

“What changed in terms of the team made me reconsider, and I thought of Hansi Flick to get the best out of this squad. It has been finished in an elegant way with Xavi, who has the club’s doors open because he has earned it.”

Barcelona are struggling to comply with La Liga's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules which had cast doubt on whether they would be able to hold on to loanees Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix. However, Laporta cleared the air and assured fans that Deco, the sporting director, is "working on" to figure out a route to extend their stays at the club.

"We want them to continue for another season," Laporta said. "Deco is working on it and we have the news that Flick believes they can be important. He already thought about them at Bayern. I am happy with the quality of Joao Felix, also with the admirable commitment of Ferran Torres when he has not been injured, and with Robert Lewandowski.”

Barcelona have a busy summer ahead of them as the Catalan club have to balance their books and simultaneously weave together a formidable side which can compete with Madrid. Flick will have a decisive role in this squad-building as the Blaugrana dream of reviving their glory days after an underwhelming 2023-24 campaign.