Xavi ‘awfully treated’ by ‘crisis club’ Barcelona, says Steve McManaman after announcement Catalan will leave

TNT Sports expert Steve McManaman believes that Barcelona manager Xavi has been “treated awfully”, with the World Cup winner set to step down from his position at the season’s end.

Barcelona, who sit third in La Liga, have disappointed this term, despite winning the league and Supercopa last season, and Xavi, who returned to his boyhood club in a managerial capacity in 2021, has had to contend with severe financial difficulties and boardroom unrest during his tenure.

The Blaugrana play Napoli in the UEFA Champions League last 16, .

Before the match in the TNT Sports studio, McManaman, who made 94 appearances for Barca’s rivals Real Madrid, could not believe how badly Xavi, who made played 505 times for Barcelona, has been treated by those in power at the club.

“Barcelona [are a crisis club] off the pitch,” McManaman said.

“Financially, they’re a mess, Xavi is going to leave. Anybody who witnessed [him] saying in front of the press that he was leaving, it was heartbreaking.

“I think he’s been treated awfully. He’s not had the support of Joan Laporta. Deco, who was an agent, is now the sporting director. [He was] given players that he doesn’t want, all on free contracts, and trying to make the best of it.

“But still, I think he’s over-achieved. He took over when they were mid-table, took them to second, and got them back into the Champions League.

“They won the league last year; they won the Supercopa beating Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia. They’re third at the moment, chasing down Girona. I feel he’s been very harshly treated.

Xavi, who succeeded Ronald Koeman at the Camp Nou, has seen his side fall eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid in the La Liga title race, while surprise package Girona also sit ahead of the Culers, even beating Barca 4-2 back in December.

McManaman and fellow TNT Sports expert Glenn Hoddle agree that none of the top managerial candidates available would consider taking the reins from Xavi.

“The financial impacts he’s inherited – if anybody knows the workings of Barcelona – it is a disaster,” McManaman explained.

“Again, La Liga are cutting their finances next year by two thirds so they won’t be able to pay a lot of the players. They won’t be able to buy any players next year. He’s been given players that he doesn’t want. They brought Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix right at the end of the transfer window when he didn’t want them.

“He’s had to do this beg, borrow and steal players all the time, relying on his younger players. The best two he’s got, Gavi and Pedri, have been injured because they’ve been utilised so much.

“The lack of support above him means he is going to walk, and it’s sad. I don’t know who will take the job because any manager with any kudos out there, who is free at the time, does not want to walk into that, because there’s only one way they’re going to go and it’s down.

“It will have to be a yes man. Rafa Marquez, the ex Barcelona player who’s managing the B team, may take it. They’re going to have years of financial difficulties.”

Hoddle, who made 544 career appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, Monaco, Swindon Town, and Chelsea, agreed.

“I’m not so sure those guys will make themselves available for Barca – if they’re clever enough,” he said.

“Xavi was fantastic with what he’s done. For the long term to be consistent, it’s the wrong time for him to be there. It doesn’t mean he’s a bad coach.”