As revealed by Fabrizio Romano, Hansi Flick has been appointed as the new Barcelona manager. The Catalans have parted ways with Xavi Hernandez, ending his two-and-a-half-year stint as their manager.
Barcelona Appoint Hansi Flick as New Manager
A Season-Long Saga Ends With Hansi Flick Arriving
Xavi announced his decision to leave Barcelona after a heavy defeat against Villarreal in late January. In a post-match press conference, he vowed to walk away from the “cruel and unpleasant” job at the end of the season.
However, a string of brilliant results toward the end of the campaign seemingly changed the club’s stance regarding Xavi’s sacking. Last month, club president Joan Laporta admitted he “absolutely” wanted the manager to stay beyond this season.
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Reports about Barcelona’s search for a new manager cooled down, but a controversial press conference reportedly convinced Laporta to change his mind about Xavi’s future.
Speaking ahead of his side’s match against Almeria earlier this month, Xavi admitted that Barcelona’s current financial situation makes it difficult for them to compete against Real Madrid and other elite sides in Europe.
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The comments were reportedly “upsetting” to Laporta, who has been under pressure to decide on Xavi’s future before the summer transfer window opens.
Flick Takes Charge
The Catalan giants will now look forward to a new chapter with the “outstanding” German manager at the helm.
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Flick has been out of work since leaving the German national team after the 2022 World Cup. The 59-year-old manager, who led Bayern Munich to a historic “sextuple” in 2020, will be eager to bring stability back to a Barcelona team that has had plenty of problems on and off the pitch in recent years.
