Despite announcing to the press that he will be quitting at the end of the season following Barcelona's devastating 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal in January, Xavi Hernández has rescinded his decision to remain at the Catalan club till 2025.

The 2010 World Cup winner made the dramatic U-turn following a meeting with club President Joan Laporta and Sporting Director Deco on Wednesday, April 24.

Explaining why he changed his mind to stay at his boyhood club for one more season, the 44-year-old said:

“I changed my mind because I really felt total confidence from the president, from the board and the players too. This project isn’t finished yet.

“Me, my staff, all together feel that we have strength to make important things together and continue this project,” Xavi said.

Other reports indicate that the sudden change of decision by the former Spain midfielder was informed by Barcelona's exit in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain.

Xavi had hoped to qualify the Blaugrana to the final of the UCL in Wembley, a venue the club won their first and fourth UCL titles in 1992 and 2011 respectively.

The former Al-Sadd boss also wanted to compete with rivals Real Madrid for the La Liga title but appears to have failed in that pursuit following their 3-2 loss to Los Blancos in the El Clasico last Sunday.

WDN