Martin Zubimendi
March 2026
Xavi claimed Barca refused his request to sign Zubimendi as Busquets’ replacement due to finances, and said the club’s version of events around his tenure was “false. In an interview, Xavi said he explicitly asked for Zubimendi and was told “no for financial reasons,” later criticising the breakdown in trust with the board during Barca’s financially restricted period.