Xavi reveals reason behind Barca stay

Barcelona manager Xavi has revealed the reasons behind his decision to remain at the Blaugrana and see his remaining one-year contract through. Contrary to announcements in January, Xavi revealed on Wednesday that he won’t leave Barca until the end of his current contract.

The manager held meetings with the club’s hierarchy, including president Joan Laporta, on Wednesday as they all persuaded Xavi to remain at the club. While he stated after a defeat to Villarreal in January that he felt unprotected by the club, the 44-year-old has revealed that the club’s board and president have now backed him and the players.

“I changed my mind because I really felt total confidence from the president, from the board, and the players, too. This project isn’t finished yet. Me, my staff, all together feel that we have strength to make important things together and continue this project .Rumours about me staying as I wanted to get the money from my final year of contract are fake… and invented to damage me.” Xavi said.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed that the club did not discuss it with any other manager, and they waited for Xavi to change his mind as he was the only priority for the club.

Barcelona are eleven points behind Real Madrid on the table, and they will play Valencia on Monday night. However, Real Madrid will face Real Sociedad away from home on Friday evening, and a win will stretch their points gap to 14 points until Barcelona’s Monday night fixture.

Real Madrid’s fixture was brought forward because of next week’s UEFA Champions League semifinal fixture against Bayern Munich next week.

Meanwhile, other La Liga fixtures for the weekend will see Las Palmas host Girona on Saturday, Almeria host Getafe, Athletic Bilbao travel to Atletico Madrid, and Alaves against Celta Vigo, all on Saturday.

On Sunday, Cadiz hosts Mallorca, Granada hosts Osasuna, Rayo Vallecano travels to Villarreal, and Real Betis and Sevilla all clash on Sunday.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu