The Barcelona team exited the Spanish King’s Cup competitions after losing to its host, Athletic Bilbao, with a score of 4-2 in a match that extended into extra time on Wednesday evening, at the “San Mamés” stadium, within the quarter-finals of the Spanish King’s Cup tournament for the current season 2023-2024.
“Sport” newspaper indicated that there is overwhelming anger from Laporta towards Xavi because of the poor plan he uses to enter all matches and the poor substitutions, and he does not want to change his philosophy.
The newspaper added that Laporta promises to dismiss Xavi in the next few days, expel him from Barcelona, and assign the Mexican coach to the reserve team, Rafa Marquez, whom Laporta wants to take responsibility until the end of the season and hire a great coach.
Laporta, after bidding farewell to the King’s Cup, wants Rafa Marquez to maintain the team’s chances in the La Liga competitions, provide a strong performance, and reach the furthest point in the Champions League.
The Spanish newspaper added that Laporta launched a strong attack on experienced player Sergi Roberto, who presented the third goal for the Basque team on a golden platter. Laporta asked the player to prepare his bag to leave at the end of the season.
Laporta, in agreement with Deco, decided to listen to the offers coming to Polish striker Robert Lewandowski and defender Kounde, as the duo became a burden on the Catalan team in addition to their huge salaries that the team bears in light of the stormy economic crisis.
Kounde, who continues his poor performances this season, wants Barcelona to get rid of him, especially in light of several Premier League clubs monitoring the player in anticipation of signing him.
The newspaper concluded: Things are currently heating up in Barcelona, and we may witness more surprises in the last hours of this January Mercato.