Rafa Márquez returned to take over the B team, Xavi Hernández came home, this time as coach, and Deco arrived again, the former midfielder turned sporting director. When Davids arrived in January 2004, Barcelona were seventh, 15 points behind Real Madrid. In Laporta’s first season as president, things were crumbling, no way out of the crisis. His arrival freed Xavi and liberated Ronaldinho and by the end Barcelona had overhauled Madrid, defeating them 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. “It would be a loan until the end of the season, just like we did years ago with Davids.” Even then, Xavi said: “It’s very difficult.

Source: Irish Examiner January 01, 2024 02:38 UTC