Barcelona part ways with Flick after Champions League exit; Xavi in talks to return

BARCELONA — FC Barcelona announced on Wednesday that Hansi Flick has been relieved of his duties as first-team manager, ending a 21-month tenure that began with a domestic double but unraveled following the club's Champions League quarterfinal elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich last week.

The decision was confirmed in a statement released by the club's communications department at midday, in which Barcelona thanked Flick "for his professionalism, his commitment and the titles he delivered to our supporters." Assistant Marcus Sorg and goalkeeping coach Andreas Kronenberg have also departed, the club confirmed.

Club president Joan Laporta, addressing reporters at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, said the board had concluded that "the cycle with Hansi had reached its natural end" after a run of four matches without a win that also saw Barcelona slip to third in LaLiga, six points behind Real Madrid with five fixtures remaining.

"We owe Hansi our gratitude, but the club requires a new voice in the dressing room," Laporta said. "The defeat in Munich was not the cause, but it confirmed what we had been sensing for weeks. We are already working on the next chapter."

That next chapter, according to sporting director Deco, involves a return for Xavi Hernández, who left Camp Nou in May 2024. Deco confirmed in remarks to Catalunya Ràdio that "conversations with Xavi are advanced and constructive," adding that the former captain had been the board's preferred candidate since Sunday's emergency meeting at Laporta's residence in the Pedralbes district of Barcelona.