Barcelona manager Xavi has sensationally elected to stay at the club beyond this summer, despite announcing that he would leave back in January.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Blaugrana manager told reporters three months ago that he planned on leaving the club at the end of the season. Since then, though, numerous figures around the team - including president Joan Laporta - have tried to convince him to stick around and see out his contract. It seems that their pleas have worked, with the manager set to stay according to various reports. He is expected to honour his contract, which runs until the end of next season.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Since announcing his resignation, Xavi has repeatedly said he has no plans to remain in Catalonia, citing the need for a change and negative impact on his mental health as reasons for leaving. But the club reportedly never opened a new managerial search, hoping that their current coach would stay. Reports emerged earlier this week that Xavi would be open to continuing his tenure under the right circumstances.
WHAT JOAN LAPORTA SAID
The Barca president asserted recently that he was keen on Xavi staying: "We will discuss this issue at the end of the season. [Xavi] is doing very well. He expressed himself in the sense in which he expressed himself, I understand that everything is open and everything is revisable. I understood that there have been circumstances that led him to do what he did. But at the end of the season, we will talk. There is time to talk about it."
WHAT NEXT FOR BARCA?
The Blaugrana will see out the rest of their season, with La Liga seemingly lost to Real Madrid. They face Valencia on Monday in their next fixture, and it seems that Xavi will have his chance to compete in the Spanish top flight once again next campaign.
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