Xavi ‘WON’T stay at Barcelona with club set for double U-turn after manager’s comments angered president Joan Laporta’

XAVI will leave Barcelona at the end of the season, according to reports.

The manager was set to quit the club before making a shock U-turn last month by agreeing to stay.

1

Xavi reportedly met with club president Joao Laporta in April and agreed a new deal, with his contract up in June.

But reports in Spain claim a clash with Laporta over recent comments made by Xavi have led to another U-turn, which will see Xavi depart at the end of the season.

According to Sport, Laporta took exception to Xavi bemoaning the fact his side would not be able to compete with Real Madrid next season due to their financial restraints.

Following victory over Almeira on Thursday, Xavi said: "We will try to compete with Madrid, but I think the fans have to understand that the situation is very tough. First of all on a financial level.

"We can no longer say: 'We want this player, and this player'. We do not have the same conditions as the other clubs with a good financial situation.

"The Barcelona fans have to understand that.

"That doesn't mean we can't challenge, but that's Barça's situation at the moment. We need time and stability, but we will also try to compete."

Xavi first decided he wanted to quit the Nou Camp in January as he "reached the point of no return".

Most read in Football

TRAGIC FIND

Body believed to be Jay Slater's is found 4 weeks after he vanished in Tenerife

FOR KEEPS

Celtic close in on ANOTHER new keeper with stopper set to join Schmeichel at club

EL OF A GAME

Tartan Army breathe sigh of relief as Scots react to Spain's win over England

FEST IS YET TO COME

I spent my 70th birthday at TRNSMT - I stood for 9 hours to see my hero

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

He said following Barcelona's 5-3 defeat to Villarreal: "I will leave Barcelona in June.

"We have reached a point of no return. It's time for change.

"As a Culé, I think that it's time to leave. I spoke with the board and the club today. I will leave on the 30th of June."

Barcelona will now be on the search for a new manager and could reportedly try and lure Mikel Arteta from Arsenal, with the Gunners boss revealing he would like to return to Spain.