Barcelona coach Xavi has agreed a new three-year contract with the club, 90min understands.
Xavi has entered the final season of the three-year contract he signed when initially appointed first-team boss towards the end of 2021 – those terms are due to expire next summer.
Sources have confirmed to 90min that talks over a fresh deal had accelerated in recent weeks and have now reached a positive conclusion, with Xavi set to put pen to paper on a deal to tie himself to the club until 2026.
Barca president Joan Laporta is particularly happy with how Xavi has handled the squad during a difficult time for the club. Results on the pitch, including Barca’s first La Liga title in four years last season, have also unsurprisingly played a major role in coming to this decision.
Having spent 24 years at Barcelona from the age of 11 until his departure as a player in 2015, Xavi’s return to Camp Nou just under two years ago has brought about an upturn in fortunes.
When he was hired from Qatari side Al Sadd, where he had finished his playing career and immediately transitioned into coaching, Barca had recently lost Lionel Messi as a result of years of financial mismanagement and were at their lowest ebb in decades.
A team led by predecessor Ronald Koeman and then interim Sergi Barjuan had won only four of its first 12 La Liga games of the 2021/22 season. Xavi immediately inspired a turnaround, including a run of 15 league games unbeaten and seven consecutive wins.
There was significant player turnover last summer, but Barca had taken 59 points from a possible 66 in La Liga by February of his first full season in charge and eventually cruised to the title.
This summer saw more careful squad management from the club, spending only a minimal amount on new players and raising close to €80m (£68m) in player sales, but still making an unbeaten start to the new La Liga season so far to keep pace with early leaders Real Madrid.
What we know
- Xavi has reached an agreement over new Barcelona contract
- Club legend has been in charge since returning in 2021
- Barca won their first La Liga title in four years last season