LALIGA giants Barcelona have reportedly made a shock decision on two of their star players.
Following their 4-1 defeat to bitter rivals Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup over the weekend, the club is said to have been forced to reflect on the interior workings of the club — both on and off the pitch.
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After the disappointing result, question marks around the future of the side's manager Xavi began to arise.
However, Barca president Joan Laporta said "it's not the time" to talk about his future at the helm until the season comes to an end as the team still has three trophies for which they can compete.
The club have seemingly turned their attention to the structure of the starting line-up and a s a result, the futures of star midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Ilkay Gundogan are said to have been cast into doubt.
Speaking after the defeat to Real, the Barca boss said his team were not at the required level to compete against Carlo Ancelotti's men on the night, and both players started the match in the middle of the park.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Xavi is prepared to release the duo if necessary.
It is further reported that their names are the only ones that come to mind as the club have been trying to sell Dutchman for a long time and because his German teammate arrived from Manchester City on a free, it provides Blaugrana with an opportunity to make a considerable profit.
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The Catalan side will be looking to turn their fortunes around by getting back to winning ways when they take on Real Betis on Sunday, 21 January.
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