Barcelona manager, Xavi Hernandez, Saturday, announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.

The Barcelona revealed the decision after a 5-3 defeat to Villarreal, a result that leaves them 10 points adrift of LaLiga leaders Real Madrid.

He said: "I want to announce that on June 30 I will no longer continue as the coach at Barca.

"I think the situation needs to change course, and as a Culer, I cannot allow the current situation."

Xavi, 44, was appointed manager of the Catalan giants in November 2021 and won the title in his first full season in charge.

But Barca have endured a more difficult 2023-24 campaign, with minnows Girona offering a more robust challenge to Real in the Spanish title race.

Tensions with the club had been rising in recent months but the news will still come as a shock.

The Spaniard is a legendary figure at the Camp Nou for his exploits as a player, with three Champions League titles among his trophy-laden career spent almost entirely with Barca.

He added: "You asked me many times that if I'd be the Sir Alex Ferguson of Barca. The truth is that it will never happen here.

"You guys won't allow it — being Barca coach is so difficult. You see how they kill you, they criticise you, it affects you."

Details follow...