Xavi Pascual Leaves FC Barcelona After Activating Buyout Clause

Xavi Pascual has formally concluded his tenure as head coach of FC Barcelona, having activated the release clause in his contract. The club announced the departure, confirming the end of Pascual's second stint with the basketball team. The buyout figure is reported to be approximately 400,000 euros.

Pascual's next destination is expected to be Dubai Basketball. This move comes after Barcelona had already communicated in late May that Pascual intended to leave at the end of the season. He had initially taken over the coaching role on November 17, succeeding the dismissed Joan Peñarroya.

Barcelona brought Pascual in to be the leading figure for the basketball section, which had been without direction since Sarunas Jasikevicius departed in the summer of 2023. However, a growing distance between Pascual and the club's board, stemming from insufficient investment and doubts about the squad's capability to compete in the EuroLeague, ultimately led to his decision to leave.

Pascual still had two years remaining on his contract with Barcelona. His departure marks the end of an era for the club's basketball program, which now faces the task of finding a new leader to guide the team forward.