Xavi tells Barcelona to pay up! Sacked coach warns club they must give full compensation to his staff after shock decision

The Spanish coach, who had been under contract with the Catalan club until June 30, 2025, is set to sever ties this Tuesday. According to AS, Xavi is determined to leave amicably by choosing to forgo his remaining salary, which amounts to a hefty €12 million (£10m/$13m), in exchange for a guarantee that his staff will be fully compensated.

The coaching team that Xavi assembled at Barcelona consists of eight key individuals, each playing a vital role in the club’s operations. Seven members of this team, including assistants Oscar Hernandez and Sergio Alegre, physical trainer Ivan Torres, physiotherapist Carlos Nogueira, and scouts David Prats, Sergio Garcia and Toni Lobo have been with Xavi since his tenure at Al Sadd. The eighth member, communications manager Edu Polo, joined the team last summer and like the other members has a contract with the club until 2025.

Xavi has been clear that his agreement to relinquish his salary hinges on the full settlement of his staff's contracts - which would likely cost the club approximately €3 million. He believes the amount should be acceptable to the club as it would not burn a hole in their pocket.

Xavi's insistence to the board underscores his commitment to ensuring his staff's financial security after the shock u-turn of Laporta and Co from their previous position just a month back. With Xavi’s departure imminent, Barcelona is poised to enter a new era under the guidance of German coach Hansi Flick. The club is expected to confirm Flick’s appointment for the next two seasons once Xavi’s exit is finalised.