FC Barcelona News

Xavi will step down as Barcelona head coach at the end of the season.

He announced the decision after Barcelona lost 5-3 at home to Villarreal, conceding twice in added time at the Nou Camp.

The result which leaves them 10 points off LaLiga leaders Real Madrid. Girona are also ahead of them in second, currently on 52 points.

“I want to announce that on June 30 I will no longer continue as the coach at Barca,” Xavi said.

“I think the situation needs to change course, and as a culer, I cannot allow the current situation.”

Xavi added that he made the decision ‘several days ago,’ and although the hard defeat to Villarreal set the scene for him to announce the decision, he ‘would have made’ it soon enough.

He said he hoped this decision will decrease the stress and tension his team is enduring.

Spanish football expert and Sky Sports News guest Semra Hunter said of Xavi’s departure on X: “It’s honestly a bit bonkers to think how a coach that won a league + a Super Cup in 2.5 years with a mediocre squad at a club in financial ruin and instituonal disarray can be driven from his post because of the immense pressure, scrutiny, and demands to be competitive and win.”

Xavi will bring an end to his tenure after less than three years, having been appointed as manager of his former club – where he won 25 major trophies – in November 2021.

The legendary midfielder replaced Ronald Koeman with his only experience a stint in Qatar with Al Sadd. He had a contract through until the end of next season.

Last season, Xavi led Barcelona to the Supercopa de Espana and LaLiga titles in his first full season and the first trophies since Lionel Messi’s departure for PSG.

But Barcelona have struggled this season and have shown signs of suffering a collapse this month. They were beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago.

Barcelona crashed out of the Copa del Rey with a 4-2 defeat to Athletic Bilbao in their quarter-final on Thursday night.

Villarreal scored twice in stoppage time at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to heap further pressure on Xavi after his side had fought back from 2-0 down.

“Practically, I don’t remember a match as cruel as today’s,” said Xavi, whose contract was set to run until 2025.

“This match has been unfortunate and it is a time to change this dynamic.”

The former Spain international, a 2010 World Cup winner, helped Barcelona to eight LaLiga titles and four Champions League victories during his time as a player.

“I am not moved by economic matters, but by the heart,” Xavi said. “I think it is the best for the club. I don’t want to be a problem for the club of my heart.

“I don’t want to be a problem, but a solution, and I think that between now and June I can still be a solution.”

Barcelona will recommence their Champions League campaign in February when they face Napoli in the last 16, which is the first time Barcelona have reached that stage of the competition in three seasons.

Follow the January transfer window with Sky Sports

Who will be on the move in the January window?

Opening on January 1 and closing at 11pm on February 1 in England and midnight in Scotland, keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms.

You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News, including daily transfer shows, and listen to our dedicated Transfer Talk podcast.

La Liga giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have joined Juventus and a host of Premier League clubs in the race to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

Newcastle, West Ham and Crystal Palace are the Premier League sides interested in signing the England international.

City boss Pep Guardiola admitted in December that Phillips can leave in order to play regular football, having made only four Premier League appearances this term.

It’s understood that City would prefer to sell, but a loan move away may also be an option.

Juventus have held initial talks with City, although Newcastle have been tipped as a credible destination as they are looking for a loan player to cover the suspended Sandro Tonali.

Phillips is thought to be high on their list.

However, both chief executive Darren Eales and manager Eddie Howe warned last week that they are at the apex of spending within profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR).

West Ham also have a long-standing interest in Phillips but it is thought his wages may prove a stumbling block for any potential deal.

Follow the January transfer window with Sky Sports

Who will be on the move in the January window?

Opening on January 1 and closing at 11pm on February 1 in England and midnight in Scotland, keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms.

You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News, including daily transfer shows, and listen to our dedicated Transfer Talk podcast.

Vinicius Junior scored a first-half hat-trick as Real Madrid were crowned Spanish Super Cup champions after a 4-1 demolition of rivals Barcelona in Saudi Arabia.

The Brazilian twice exploited Barcelona’s lackadaisical high line to put Real 2-0 up within the first 10 minutes before Robert Lewandowski halved the deficit just after the half-hour mark.

But Vinicius completed his hat-trick from the spot in the 39th minute, having been hauled down in the area by Ronald Araujo, before Rodrygo completed a one-sided win after the interval.

To compound a miserable evening in Riyadh for Barcelona, Araujo was dismissed in the 71st minute for another foul on Vinicius.

How Real marched to Super Cup glory

Real, who trailed 3-2 with just five minutes remaining against Atletico Madrid in the semi-final on Wednesday before triumphing 5-3 after extra-time, continued their recent dominance over their rivals.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side prevailed in October’s El Clasico meeting and are seven points ahead of Barcelona at the halfway point of the LaLiga campaign.

This latest encounter marked a chance for Barcelona to land a blow of their own but Xavi’s decision to employ a risky high defensive line backfired spectacularly as Real hit the front after seven minutes.

Jude Bellingham – who at the final whistle celebrated winning his first trophy with Real – split the defence with a sublime pass that allowed Vinicius to round Inaki Pena and slot into an empty net.

Real and Vinicius capitalised again on plenty of space being left in behind as the 23-year-old slid in to convert Rodrygo’s cross.

Barcelona responded well to the double blow as Ferran Torres’ snapshot cannoned against the bar before both he and Lewandowski forced Andriy Lunin into important saves to keep Real two ahead.

Lewandowski’s thunderous volley from the edge of the area after 33 minutes dragged Barcelona back into the contest but the Catalans were the architects of their own downfall moments later.

Araujo paid the price for having his arm around the neck of Vinicius, who went down which saw a penalty awarded and the Barcelona defender booked.

Vinicius made no mistake from 12 yards to re-establish Real’s two-goal lead at half-time.

Xavi made a triple substitution as Joao Felix, Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal were introduced just after the hour mark but it did not have the required impact as Real went further ahead in the 64th minute.

Vinicius was involved again as his poor cross was tamely cut out by Jules Kounde straight into the path of Rodrygo, who drilled beyond Pena from inside the area.

Matters worsened for Barcelona as Araujo missed an attempted clearance and instead brought down Vinicius, with the Uruguayan having to trudge off the pitch for a second bookable offence.

Ancelotti was able to withdraw Vinicius and Bellingham in the closing stages with the job done and attention fast turning to Thursday’s Copa del Rey showdown against Atletico.

What’s next?

Real Madrid are back in action on Thursday when they make the trip to city rivals Atletico Madrid in the fourth round of the Copa del Rey; kick-off 8.30pm. Carlo Ancelotti’s side then host Almeria in LaLiga on Sunday; kick-off 3.15pm.

Barcelona are also in Copa del Rey action on Thursday when they travel to Unionistas in the fourth round; kick-off 6.30pm. They then make the trip to Real Betis in LaLiga on Sunday; kick-off 5.30pm.

Barcelona manager Xavi wants the club to sign Tottenham’s Giovani Lo Celso in the January transfer window.

The need for a player of Lo Celso’s profile has been heightened by an injury to Gavi.

The request is actually considered a test of how much support Xavi has among the Barca hierarchy.

Xavi identified Lo Celso as a top target in the summer but both the player and Tottenham were keen for him to stay.

He has been impressive lately for Spurs following injuries to several players, especially against Man City, and scored against both the Premier League champions and third-placed Aston Villa.

Lo Celso, who will have 18 months left on his contract in January, has started three of Spurs’ last four league games, and played the last 17 minutes of Saturday’s 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He has already played more Premier League minutes under Ange Postecoglou than in any campaign since 2020/21, having spent most of the last two seasons on loan at Villarreal.

Analysis: Has Lo Celso become Spurs’ main man?

Sky Sports features writer Nick Wright:

“Ask any member of the Argentina squad who their best technical player is and they will, of course, say Lionel Messi, but ask them who the second best is and they will likely give you a more surprising answer: Giovani Lo Celso.

“Perhaps that is less surprising if you consider how the 27-year-old has performed for his country over the last few years; 48 caps and 14 assists since his debut in 2017, playing in all but eight games when he has been fit, and always loyally available for selection.

“His technical proficiency has never been in question, especially in Argentina and Spain, where he made his name at Real Betis on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, and it was why he was snapped up by Spurs to play an advanced midfield role under Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.”

Read more on Lo Celso’s comeback from Tottenham exile here.

Lawyers for the woman accusing Dani Alves of sexual assault are asking for the maximum sentence of 12 years in prison for the Brazilian football player.

The woman’s lawyers filed the request on Tuesday, two weeks after prosecutors sought a nine-year prison sentence for Alves.

Alves is set to face trial over allegations he assaulted the woman in a Barcelona nightclub on December 30, 2022. He was indicted by an investigative judge in August and the court said there was enough evidence to open a trial, which is expected to take place early next year.

The former Barcelona defender has denied any wrongdoing, claiming he had consensual sex with the accuser. He has been in jail since January, when he was arrested after an initial investigation.

Prosecutors also want Alves to pay 150,000 euros (£128,500) in damages to the victim, and to be prohibited from having any contact with her for an additional 10 years. They also want Alves to remain supervised for a decade after serving his prison term.

All of Alves’ bail requests have been denied because the court has considered him a flight risk. The player had offered to turn in his passports and wear a tracking device.

The 40-year-old Alves won 42 trophies, including three Champions Leagues with Barcelona and two Copa Americas with Brazil. He played at his third World Cup last year in Qatar.