Real Madrid president Florentino Perez defended Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, and even called on the Catalan club’s management to keep him and not leave his position next season.
Perez met with Barcelona President Joan Laporta before the two teams’ confrontation last Sunday to have lunch, as usual, during which the two parties talked about various matters, including Xavi’s future.
According to the newspaper “Sport”, Perez expressed his astonishment at the attacks that Xavi was subjected to due to Barcelona’s exclusion from the Champions League and the imminent loss of the La Liga title.
The Madrid president believes that Xavi does not deserve to put his future on the line given his good work at Camp Nou, and based this on his experience with Carlo Ancelotti last year.
Real Madrid lost the Spanish League title and exited the Champions League with a heavy defeat by Manchester City 4-0, and Ancelotti’s future was not discussed or his dismissal was considered.
Xavi had announced his departure from Barcelona at the end of the season, but negotiations are ongoing between the Catalan administration and the coach in order to convince him to continue for at least another year.
