In a shocking move, Barcelona have announced the sacking of head coach Xavi Hernandez, effective immediately. The decision comes ahead of the club’s final LaLiga game of the season against Sevilla on Sunday, which Xavi will still coach.

Xavi’s departure is a surprise, given that he was initially planning to leave the club in the summer but was persuaded to stay on by club president Joan Laporta. However, tensions arose after Xavi made comments to the media about the club’s financial struggles, which reportedly angered Laporta and the club’s hierarchy.

Despite being contracted until 2025, Xavi will leave the club after two and a half years in charge. During his tenure, he led the team to a LaLiga title in the previous campaign and developed several youth talents, including Lamine Yamal. However, the club has decided to take a different direction in an effort to close the gap to Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid.

Xavi’s departure marks the end of an era at Barcelona, where he spent 17 years as a player and coach. Despite his success and dedication to the club, his comments about the club’s financial situation ultimately led to his downfall.