Joan Laporta provides huge update on Xavi Hernandez's Barcelona future

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted that he wants Xavi Hernandez to stay on as the club's manager beyond the 2023/24 season.

Xavi announced his intention to leave Barca at the end of the 2023/24 campaign a few months ago following a torrid run of form which saw them lose two El Clasicos and drop out of the La Liga title race.

Since then, however, La Blaugrana's form both domestically and on the continent has improved dramatically. Barca are currently enjoying a ten game unbeaten run in all competitions, and recently booked their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2020 with a win over SSC Napoli.

Said uptick in form has led to fans calling for Xavi to stay at the club, with reports stating that there are three conditions that, if met, could lead to the manager staying put.

One of said 'conditions' is reportedly Barca specifically asking Xavi to change his mind and, speaking in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, club president Laporta gave an indication that this could happen:

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, he already knows it [that Barca want Xavi to stay], but he notices it. I would like him to continue, but I already told him at the time, when he said about the pressure, that here we are always under pressure with the experience you have…

"I asked him if there was any way he could change his mind, but I saw him dealing with an insurmountable pressure that could be seen on his face, so I told him to relax if he saw it that way.

“He keeps saying that at the end of the season he would leave as we have agreed, but we’ll see. Let’s not put that pressure on ourselves because at the moment being with this formula works.

“Depending on how the season goes, he already knows. And he has the motivation that he wants to win to finish this stage with glory, or in order to think about it or continue.”

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