Why did FC Barcelona sack Xavi, after initially deciding to keep him? Bayern Munich fans may not be familiar with the story that eventually led to Hansi Flick being hired by the team he beat 8-2, but Joan Laporta spoke to the media to explain his decision.
“Since Xavi said he was leaving, Hansi has been studying the squad and seeing how to use these players,” said the FCB President (via Football Espana).
“When we decided that Xavi was not continuing, Deco and Bojan met with him. He is very excited, he is calm, responsible, mature … He gave us peace of mind that this is going to go well. I told him where I was coming, to a club that is more than a club, owned by its members, so that he understood our way of seeing life. He gives me a good feeling.”
Flick, however, has no previous background with FC Barcelona, unless you count the 8-2 from back in 2020. Hilariously, Laporta even addresses this.
“I was satisfied with the level of knowledge he has about the club. He has a house in Formentera. Pini Zahavi has brought him up to date. He is a very good professional, his teams are very physically prepared, he won a sextet equaling ours, with a result against us that I do not want to remember …”
This confirms that Pini Zahavi brokered the deal, which is a fact that will make Bayern Munich fans squirm. He was the man originally responsible for taking Robert Lewandowski to Barca and helping David Alaba get his move to Real Madrid — now he’s expanded his clientele to coaches as well. It also adds another dimension to Bayern’s rejection of Flick, given his connections with said agent.
Laporta, meanwhile, is unfazed. He is confident in Flick’s ability to perform with the squad Barcelona already has — possibly an admission that the second FCB doesn’t have much wiggle room for transfers.
“The commitment to La Masia is unconditional and Flick has already opted for the base in Bayern and with Germany. He is going to meet Lamine, Balde, Gavi, Cubarsí, Fermín, Fort, Araujo, Pedri … He is going to work with young people with a lot of future. Reinforced by other players like Frenkie, Gündogan, Lewandowski … He is very motivated to get the most out of the team.”
Of course, this is all standard PR fare — Bayern Munich’s bosses are saying similar things about Vincent Kompany (except Burnley never beat Bayern 8-2 — we’ll leave that aside). Will all these lofty promises come true, or will Flick crash and burn with the FCB machine? Only time will tell.