da pinup bet： Lamine Yamal has described Xavi's sudden sacking as "very strange" but is very excited for the arrival of new Barcelona boss Hansi Flick.

da dobrowin： Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Xavi sacked by BarcelonaFlick to replace him next termYamal reacts to manager changesWHAT HAPPENED?

Spanish international Yamal was handed his Barcelona debut by manager Xavi in April 2023 but just over a year later, the former Blaugrana midfielder was dismissed by the Spanish giants. Ex-Bayern Munich boss Flick was named as his successor soon after and now the 16-year-old has weighed in on Barca's managerial changes.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT YAMAL SAID

When asked about Xavi's sacking, he told Mundo Deportivo: "It was a very strange moment. At first he left, then he stayed… It was strange, because we saw the same thing that you saw too. [It was] very sad because for me he was the first coach in the elite that I've had, but these are things that happen in football."

The youngster added on Flick's appointment: "The last thing I saw was when he was at Bayern, and also in the German national team. They have a fairly offensive game, quite direct. I'm very excited."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

It's been a chaotic six months for Barca. Xavi initially said he would step down in January at the end of the season, before being convinced by the club's board to stay on. President Joan Laporta took exception to Xavi's comments about the state of the Catalan outfit and now Flick is at the helm. But the club's financial issues remain and more players may have to be sold to balance the books.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

While Yamal heads out to Germany to represent Spain at this summer's Euros, the teenager is likely to return for their pre-season fixtures against Manchester City, Real Madrid, and AC Milan in late July and early August.