BARCELONA
Will Xavi leave Barcelona at the end of the season? Manager linked with Ajax job
The Catalan coach has announced he is leaving Barcelona at the end of the season, and now a potential suitor has been named.
As of today, commenting on Xavi’s future feels like trying to escape from a house of mirrors while wearing earplugs. You have no idea which way to go and even despite the fact you’re hearing muffled noises, you can’t quite work out where they’re coming from.
The coach announced that he would be stepping down as Barça boss in January and ever since then all we’ve heard is a) the Barcelona president saying there is a chance he stays, b) the Barcelona vice-president asking him to stay, c) fans happy with recent results under him and d) not Xavi definitely pinky promising (no takesies-backsies) that he’s actually, really, certainly going.
Xavi continues to be unclear regarding his future
“As of today”, just how I started a couple of paragraphs ago - back then when it looked like Xavi was leaving, or was he staying at that point? - is how the coach has framed every question since his announcement following the loss to Villarreal. This means that he has not yet thought about which box to put his pencil holder and mug into, and the door that bears his name until at least June 30 is slightly ajar, with whispers on the other side of ‘will he really leave the club of his life?’
Let’s get one thing clear: it’s obvious - or at least it has been until now - that there are certain parts of managing Barcelona that Xavi has not enjoyed. In fact, parts that he has outright hated. Ever since he walked into the press room for the first time he has criticised those who sit there for not being on his side and the dream cloud above his pillow at night even ended up with him bringing up an article after the fantastic win over Napoli - arguably the best result all season - in which his side were called “a laughing stock”... written before Christmas!
Where could Xavi go if he leaves Barcelona?
Xavi then, is as confused as the rest of us, as confused as I am writing this with no structure at all. The castle is smaller than the cow in my drawing of this situation but at this point in the season I’m just surprised I’ve managed to hold the coloured pencil the right way up.
Naturally, is he going to leave? is the million-dollar question - so let’s imagine he does. Ajax, according to SPORT, in Cataluña, have expressed an interested in bringing the manager to The Netherlands next season. On the face of it, the move makes sense: Johan Cruyff links both clubs and Xavi is arguably more Cruyffian than anyone else in football today.
The Dutch club are also getting rid of their manager, John van ‘t Schip at the end of the current season. Now he, dear Xavi, is definitely leaving. Of course, everything is contained within the house of mirrors and who knows, we could all be led down the path towards the exit, holding tightly onto Xavi’s hand, only for us to find that there is no exit at all, just Xavi’s reflection looking back, and we carry on.