FC Barcelona Coach Xavi Hernandez Turns Down Immediate Contract Renewal Offer

FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has turned down the immediate chance to sign a contract renewal and wants to wait until the end of the season until making a decision on his future, SPORT has reported.

The legendary midfielder has been in the dugout since November 2021 when he took over the reins from Ronald Koeman and agreed to manage his boyhood club until at least 2024.

Though Xavi finished the 2021/2022 season trophyless and has overseen four premature European exits in the Champions League and the Europa League, president Joan Laporta has gone on the record saying that he wishes to offer the 43-year-old fresh terms.

“I have already thought about a renewal,” Laporta confessed, while making a speech to mark two years since winning the 2021 presidential election earlier this month.

“I think we should renew him because he has earned it. He knows the house. He knows Barca. He doesn’t ask us for crazy things [as per transfers]. He perfectly understands the situation of the club.”

SPORT also reported that Xavi would be offered the renewal after El Clasico against Real Madrid, which Barca won 2-1 thanks to a stoppage time goal from Franck Kessie that put his team 12 points clear at the top of the La Liga table.

On Thursday, the same Catalan daily newspaper reports that the offer has already been made to extend until 2026. Xavi, however, although grateful, wishes to wait until the end of the season before putting pen to paper.

This ties in with what transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Thursday morning when he wrote on Twitter that it is just a “matter of time” until Xavi signs on the dotted line.

“The club have the proposal ready, [but] Xavi wants full focus on the pitch now,” Romano explained. “Xavi is actively working on future plans with the board, [but] wants his first Liga title as coach then he will sign.”

When broached on the potential renewal in his pre-match press conference before Barca took on Athletic Club in Bilbao, Xavi said that re-signing and putting together a Sir Alex Ferguson-esque dynasty “will depend on the results”.

“It is not the time to talk about a renewal. We have one more year on our contract, it matters to win titles,” Xavi insisted.

With the Spanish Super Cup already lifted, however, and one hand on the La Liga crown, the silverware is already rolling in for a Barca outfit that can book their place in the Copa del Rey final and put themselves on the cusp of a domestic treble by beating Madrid in a last four second leg clash at Camp Nou on April 5.