Xavi asks for a meeting with Barcelona hierarchy to discuss future, open to staying

In a major update, Marta Ramon of RAC1 reports that Xavi Hernandez has requested a meeting with the Barcelona leadership to discuss his possible continuity at the club beyond this season.

Xavi announced his decision to step away from the Barcelona job once the season is over back in January after the harrowing defeat against Villarreal.

Since then, though, the Catalans have turned over a new leaf and have improved a great deal as a team, prompting a change in sentiments over Xavi’s future at the club.

Indeed, the higher-ups, led by club president Joan Laporta himself, have been trying to convince Xavi to stay on, although the manager has refused to change his stance.

Could Xavi continue?

The past week’s UEFA Champions League defeat to PSG appeared to have sealed the deal firmly as far as Xavi’s future was confirmed with an exit seeming certain.

However, over the past 12 hours or so, there have been contradicting reports emerging, claiming that the Barcelona legend could in fact continue as manager.

Now, RAC1 also comes forward with a new report supporting those claims.

Xavi set to stay? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

As per the latest update, Xavi has requested a meeting with the club hierarchy, which would possibly include Laporta, his right-hand men Rafa Yuste and Enric Masip, as well as sporting director Deco, among others.

Furthermore, Mundo Deportivo reports that the former midfielder is now very much open to the idea of staying at the club.

Xavi seeks guarantees

The report from RAC1 states that Xavi will ask for guarantees from the Barcelona leadership about strengthening the squad according to his wishes if they do want him to continue.

The financial issues at the club have meant that Xavi has not always gotten his desired signings. A top-level pivot is something that the manager asked for last summer following Sergio Busquets’ exit but ended up with Oriol Romeu.

So, it is only natural for Xavi to seek assurances from the board that they are willing to back him in the market and strengthen the squad.

The news that Xavi himself has asked for a meeting could hint that he might be leaning towards staying at the club. He still has a year left on his contract and it remains to be seen how the meeting goes.