Hansi Flick Barcelona arrival imminent as Xavi Hernandez negotiates exit package for staff

‘Hansi Flick day’ it has been termed by the local Catalan press in Barcelona, with the German coach set to arrive in the city this Tuesday. However there is still the matter of Xavi Hernandez and his exit package to negotiate.

Flick will reportedly arrive in Barcelona today, and be announced as the new manager. However no presentation is expected, with the club feeling that he is not yet ready to take on the media without having bedded into the club.

Xavi confirmed on Sunday night that he would not be claiming the money due to him for the final year of his deal, which Diario AS estimate at €12m, but he will be steadfast over the packages for his staff. Their salaries amount to around €3m, and Xavi knows the club can afford that amount – they should receive what was due to them unless President Joan Laporta intervenes.

🚨 Roberto’s renewal has been put on hold waiting for Flick to arrive. @VMalo8

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) May 28, 2024

If all of them depart, it will be eight in total, consisting of: assistant Oscar Hernandez, coach Sergio Alegre, fitness coach Ivan Torres, physio Carlos Nogueira, press officer Edu Polo and scouting team David Prats, Sergio Garcia and Toni Lobo.

Flick is set to bring in two of his own assistants from Germany in Toni Tapalovic and Marcus Sorg, but it will be a significant shift for the Barcelona squad. Flick and his side are vastly experienced in the game, but have never worked outside of Germany, and are not familiar with Barcelona. Meanwhile Xavi and his staff had only worked at Al-Sadd in Qatar, yet were intimately familiar with the club and all of its particularities.