Xavi Hernandez Stays at Barcelona

Xavi Hernandez and Barcelona's relationship seemed on the rocks in January but they have made the decision to stay together in a marriage of convenience.

After the coach said he would walk away at the end of the season from a dream job that turned out to be "cruel" and "unpleasant", three months later he changed his mind in a dramatic U-turn.

"In January I saw the best thing was for me to leave, but now I see it differently," Xavi said at a press conference.

The decision came hot on the heels of Barcelona's Clasico defeat by Real Madrid that left them 11 points behind the leaders in La Liga, and Champions League elimination by Paris Saint-Germain.

Those losses virtually guarantee Barcelona will end the campaign without a trophy, a disappointment after their first La Liga triumph in four years last season.

President Joan Laporta said the club needed "stability" and not drastic decision-making, despite failing to meet any of their objectives this season.

"Regarding money, Xavi has behaved with great dignity," said Laporta. "He has never been greedy."

Barcelona did manage to compete with Europe's giants on an even keel in a way they have not in years past.

They reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2020 and knocked-out Serie A winners Napoli.

"It's in our hands now," said Xavi, after years fearing the worst on the biggest nights against superior forces.

However the club's improvement since Xavi's initial decision in January is not the chief reason they club are willing to keep him, instead only the easy explanation.

Despite Laporta claiming they had not looked into alternative options, Barcelona could not see a suitable one.

Barcelona can also hope keeping Xavi will still work out, with each year at the helm providing vital new experiences for a novice coach.