FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has made what SPORT has reported as the first 'new signing' ... [+]
FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has made what SPORT reported as the first “new signing” of his fresh reign while citing anonymous sources.
Back in January, Xavi announced that he would step down from his high-pressure role on June 30.
However, in a dramatic U-turn this week at President Joan Laporta's residence on Wednesday evening the club legend changed his mind and agreed to see out his contract which expires on the same date in 2025.
Mundo Deportivo reported that Xavi demanded three players should either stay at or join Barca in order to continue, though the 44-year-old denied this at a Thursday afternoon press conference in Barcelona where he and Laporta confirmed the change of heart during a specially-called press conference.
In any event, Xavi and the board are already making changes to the outlook of the first team with next season in mind.
According to SPORT, they have already completed what has been reported as a “new signing” in strength work and injury prevention specialist Julio Tous.
Tous is considered to be a revolutionary figure in his field and already boasts experience working alongside Xavi when the manager was a player in the mid-2000s.
He has also passed through Juventus and the Italian national team, and formed part of the staff that oversaw Chelsea’s last Premier League win in 2017 with Antonio Conte at the helm.
SPORT says that Barca wants Tous to “try to establish a structure based on proven professionals, internal and external,” and “optimize the performance of the players to the maximum.”
As Barca is six games from finishing a season that has been plagued by injuries to leading stars such as Gavi, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong among others, Tous’ work could provide the key to helping the Catalans compete again on a domestic front and further afield in Europe.
After winning the La Liga title for the first time in four years in the spring of 2023, Barca now looks set to end the term trophyless. Yet this might not have been the case had Xavi been able to rely on a fit squad for key games and other important points of the campaign.
