Barcelona sporting director breaks silence on Xavi’s sacking – ‘I don’t regret anything’ | OneFootball

Barcelona sporting director Deco has made it clear that he does not have any regrets about how Xavi’s departure from the club unfolded last year.

Since taking over as sporting director, one of the biggest challenges he faced was overseeing a managerial change.

While the decision to part ways with Xavi was not his alone, he played a key role in the process alongside the club’s sporting commission and president Joan Laporta.

It must be noted that Xavi had initially announced his resignation at the end of January following a heavy defeat against Villarreal.

However, instead of leaving immediately, it was agreed that he would stay on until the end of the season.

This prolonged farewell led to significant speculation and debate surrounding the club’s future direction. Eventually, Barcelona decided to bring in Hansi Flick to replace him.

Reflecting on his exit

Deco does not regret Xavi’s exit (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)

Deco has acknowledged that letting go of Xavi was not an easy decision, especially given his contributions to the club. He arrived at a difficult time and even managed to win a league title.

“Xavi’s departure was not easy at all because he had won a league, he had entered a difficult moment for the club accepting the challenge, but last season was hard in every way and that’s why we decided that the best thing was a change on the bench,” he told SPORT.

Despite the difficulties, Deco stands by the decision, stating that he always expresses his opinions honestly and remains firm in his convictions.

“I don’t regret anything because I always go face-to-face, I always say the things I believe and what I think at that moment. Xavi will always be a friend and an important person for me.”

He continues to hold Xavi in high regard, recognising his immense contributions both as a player and as a coach. However, he understands that football is unpredictable, and sometimes changes are required for the club’s best interests.

“He has been a teammate and is a very important person in the history of the club, one of the most important players in the history of Barça,” he noted.

Affection for Xavi

Deco still hold Xavi in high regard. (Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images)

He also pointed out that Xavi himself had initially decided to leave before changing his mind later, which added to the complications surrounding his departure.

“We have a lot of affection for him, but football is football. Sometimes things don’t work out the way you think and you have to change.

“And we can’t forget that the first one who took the step of leaving was Xavi and then he ended up changing his mind and the whole movie we had to live through was edited.”

Ultimately, Deco insists that the decision was not solely his but rather a collective conclusion reached after assessing various factors. In the end, the club believed that moving in a new direction with a fresh approach was the best choice.

“I have nothing to regret, among other things because it was not my decision, it was not me who decided it.

“The decision ended up being made by a series of things that were happening and for which we came to the conclusion that the best thing was a change,” he added.