FC Barcelona Coach Xavi Denied Access To U.S. Jeopardizing American Preseason Tour

FC Barcelona head coach has been denied access to the United States and will therefore not join the Catalans on their upcoming American preseason tour as things stand.

The Blaugrana flew out to the US at 14.30 CEST on Saturday and will play four friendlies over the Atlantic starting with a July 19 encounter against Inter Miami at the DRV PNK Stadium.

The La Liga giants then head west to take on bitter rivals Real Madrid in a Las Vegas Clasico at the Allegiant Stadium home of NFL franchise the Las Vegas Raiders on July 24, in what is their first meeting on American soil since Barca won 3-2 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Three days after the Madrid showdown, Juventus await at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas before the tour ends in New York on July 30 when the Blaugrana face the New York Red Bulls at the Red Bull Arena.

And though it has now been confirmed that Frenkie de Jong will head over the pond after reports that he would be excluded from the trip for not entertaining a move to Manchester United, his current coach Xavi will not be able to command him during what could be the Dutchman’s last game for the clubs.

According to TV3, Xavi has been denied an American visa due to travel activities he carried out when managing Al-Sadd – in what was first managerial role before taking over the reins at his boyhood club last November when previous coach Ronald Koeman was fired.

While leading Al-Sadd, Xavi visited Iran more than three times which has reportedly not been looked upon favorably by US immigration.

Who will now manage Barca in the States seems unclear at the moment, and Xavi looks at risk of not being in charge for the first matches of new signings Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.

While Raphinha arrived in Barcelona from Leeds United midweek and was unveiled on Friday, Lewandowski will head to Miami for a medical this weekend and hopefully then sign his contract to complete a €50mn ($50.4mn) move from Bayern Munich.

According to some outlets, however, Xavi could eventually link up with the rest of the squad if he obtains special permission from US authorities.