Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently gave an extensive interview where he covered a range of topics, including the appointment of Hansi Flick, the squad’s expectations for the next season, and the reasons behind Xavi’s dismissal, among other things.
Here, we focus on three key points that stood out during the interview:
Diverging visions led to Xavi’s dismissal
One of the most talked-about subjects was the dismissal of Xavi and questions about his sacking were inevitable, given the ups and downs the team experienced in the latter half of the season.
In late January, after a defeat to Villarreal, Xavi had announced his decision to leave, only to change his mind a few months later.
Despite this, things didn’t go as planned. After Barcelona’s final league match, the management issued a statement that Xavi had been dismissed by President Laporta.
Laporta explained that, although Xavi performed well as a manager, their visions for the team did not align.
The main issue arose when Xavi and Laporta had differing views on the squad’s potential. This difference in perspective prompted Laporta to look for alternatives, with Hansi Flick emerging as the most appealing option.
“What changed? A change of discourse about the squad and made me realise that I had to give another impulse, it made me think again, and I thought of Hansi Flick,” admitted Laporta.
“Everything was forced when we accepted Xavi’s continuation because he had said he was leaving,” he added.
Lewandowski’s future at Barcelona is secured
Had Xavi remained in charge, there was a possibility that veteran forward Robert Lewandowski might have been sold.
Xavi was reportedly not satisfied with keeping Lewandowski on the team and had even started considering a replacement for him. This led to speculation that Lewandowski would be sold.
However, the arrival of Hansi Flick changed the situation. Flick and Lewandowski had previously worked together at Bayern Munich and were eager to continue their successful partnership at Barcelona.
According to Laporta, Lewandowski showed his commitment by putting in extra effort and rejecting offers from Saudi Arabia to stay at Barcelona.
“Lewandowski is motivated, he has said no to offers from Arabia and he did not want to leave because he is comfortable in the country,” revealed the president.
Flick’s presence reassured both the club and Lewandowski, ensuring that the veteran forward remains an integral part of the team for the upcoming season.
Felix and Cancelo’s continued presence at the club
Another pressing issue was the future of Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo at Barcelona. With the change in management, there was uncertainty about whether Flick would want to keep the Portuguese duo.
Laporta confirmed that both Flick and the club’s sports management team want Felix and Cancelo to continue at Barcelona.
He revealed that the sporting director, Deco, is actively working on making this happen.
“We want the Joaos to continue. Deco is working to ensure that they continue another season in the current conditions.
“Flick considers that they are high-quality players and when he coached Bayern he already tried to incorporate Joao Felix,” added Laporta.
Both players are seen as valuable assets, and the management is keen on securing their services for the foreseeable future.
Summary
Laporta’s interview shed light on some significant developments within Barcelona. The dismissal of Xavi was due to differing visions between him and the club’s management, leading to the appointment of Hansi Flick.
Only the news of the new manager’s arrival has had a positive impact on the team, particularly regarding the future of key players like Robert Lewandowski, Joao Felix, and Joao Cancelo.
Flick’s history with Lewandowski has ensured the forward’s commitment to the club, while efforts are being made to secure the continued presence of Felix and Cancelo.
Overall, Laporta’s insights provided a clearer understanding of the club’s direction and the decisions made to ensure Barcelona remain competitive and successful in the coming seasons.
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