Joan Laporta remains adamant that Xavi could stay on as Barcelona manager despite the Spaniard's recent "won't change my mind" statement.
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Xavi remains firm on leaving BarcelonaDeco also confirmed the same – no change of plansYet Laporta still optimistic about Xavi's stayWHAT HAPPENED?
Xavi announced his intention to depart at the end of the season in January, triggering efforts from the Barcelona hierarchy to persuade him to reconsider his decision. The Blaugrana's fine form since his announcement, including a 12-game unbeaten streak, has added weight to their appeal.
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In a press conference ahead of Barcelona's match against Cadiz last weekend, Xavi reiterated his stance, stating: "I will not change my mind." Despite the emphatic confirmation from the man himself, Laporta remains undeterred and claims that discussions about Xavi's future will take place at the end of the season with everything remaining "open".
WHAT LAPORTA SAID
Laporta said via : "We will discuss this issue at the end of the season. He [Xavi] is doing very well. He expressed himself in the sense in which he expressed himself, I understand that everything is open and everything is revisable. I understood that there have been circumstances that led him to do what he did. But at the end of the season, we will talk. There is time to talk about it."
DECO CONTRADICTED LAPORTA
Barca's sporting director Deco made a contradictory statement to Laporta a few days ago, insisting there are currently no plans to convince Xavi to change his mind about his departure.
"At the moment there is no plan for Xavi to change his mind; if there is, we will talk," Deco said.
"The peace of mind comes from the results. The team is winning. We have already talked a lot about Xavi. It has been a personal issue. We don't have much to talk about. We have to think about the games."