Xavi described Gerard Pique's retirement as "the law of life" and confirmed it could prompt Barcelona to dive back into the transfer market in January.
At the age of 35, and with a reduced role this season, Pique has taken it upon himself to call time on his career, rather than see out a contract that was due to run through to 2024.
Head coach Xavi has accepted his decisions have led to this point, having made it clear to Pique in pre-season he would not be a regular starter.
Pique will play his final Camp Nou game on Saturday, providing he is involved against Almeria, and has told Xavi he will also be available to face Osasuna in an away game on Tuesday.
The season then goes on hold as the World Cup takes over, and Pique will say his farewells to his boyhood club, for whom he has played over 600 games.
Barcelona will move on without him, and Xavi said: "Now we need to build a new generation. A lot of young players are gaining importance. It's a new era.
"We hope this is a new generation that gives a lot to the club. It's a shame when you see great team-mates and friends who are saying goodbye to football.
"It's a sad thing to see, it makes you nostalgic, but it's the law of life, and it will happen to everyone."
Xavi believes Pique, who already has substantial business interests, could be a future Barcelona president.
"Gerard can be whatever he wants," said Xavi, when that notion was put to him. "For the ability he's got, the leadership, the personality he transmits, he can be whatever he wants. He's got abilities without doubt.
"He's super competitive, intelligent, he's got an amazing intellectual capacity, much more than normal."
With Pique on his way out, Barcelona will be one defender short of where Xavi would like them. He had hoped Pique would stay on, but instead he confirmed talks will take place about the possibility of making a new signing.
"We'll see. Now Gerard's leaving, yes maybe," Xavi said in his press conference on Friday.
"We’ll have a meeting after the match against Osasuna to plan a little bit. We'll have time to plan with Mateu [Alemany, sporting director] and the president [Joan Laporta]."
Xavi played in the same team as Pique for seven years from 2008 to 2015, winning three Champions Leagues together and abundant domestic honours. They were also Spain team-mates for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 triumphs.
The coach has little doubt Pique will make a success of whatever he turns his hand to.
"A lot of times we don't choose the end," said Xavi. "It's worked out this way for better or worse and I wish him all the best.
"He's always given his all. He's a winner, he's always been a winner, and he'll continue to be that wherever he goes."
Pique will hope his final game at Barcelona's home is a winning farewell, and the signs are good.
Among current LaLiga teams, Barcelona have played more games against Almeria without defeat (P12 W10 D2) than against any other opponent. At home, Barcelona have won their six games against Almeria in LaLiga, scoring three or more goals in each of the last three.
Almeria's Rubi has lost all six of his games as a head coach in LaLiga against Barcelona, and the club have not had an away win against any opponent in LaLiga since February 2015, during a relegation season. They have drawn one and lost 12 on the road in LaLiga since that last win, with this their first season back in the top flight.
Antonio and Dixon out, Morrison returns for Reggae Boyz in crucial clash with USA
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will be without key players Michail Antonio and Kaheim Dixon for the second leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final against the United States at Energizer Stadium in St. Louis on Monday. Both players are unavailable due to lost passports, a situation that could not be resolved in time to secure visas for their travel to the United States, Head Coach Steve McLaren explained during Sunday’s pre-match press conference.
Adding to the Reggae Boyz’s challenges, defender Mason Holgate will also miss the match after receiving a red card in the first leg, which Jamaica lost 1-0 in Kingston last Thursday. Despite these setbacks, Jamaica has bolstered its squad with the return of Ravel Morrison and the inclusion of Khori Bennett, a forward for the Las Vegas Lights in the USL. Bennett, a former Wolmer’s Boys standout, could make his senior debut in this must-win encounter.
Reflecting on the first leg, McLaren expressed disappointment with the result but remained optimistic about Jamaica’s chances. “I think we were unfortunate to come away with a defeat, albeit by just one goal,” McLaren said. “We felt we did enough to draw the game. We didn’t in the end, but we are still in the tie. Away from home, we’ve been in good form recently. This will be a completely different game altogether. We know that USA on home soil is a totally different team, so we expect another very difficult game but come here with optimism and belief.”
Jamaica’s task is clear: overturn the 1-0 deficit and advance to the semi-finals. “We know what our goal is,” McLaren continued. “We need to score two goals or more and win the game. The first goal in this game will be very important.”
A significant storyline heading into the match is the return of Ravel Morrison, who has been absent from the national team for over a year. He last played for Jamaica in March 2023 against Mexico. McLaren, who worked with Morrison at Derby County, is confident the creative midfielder can make a difference.
“I am always looking out for good players and players who can make a difference, handle the ball, big game players, and Ravel has always been one of them,” McLaren said. “He’s got a great personality and unbelievable talent. He wasn’t picked before because he wasn’t playing. He is now playing very well in Dubai, scoring goals and assisting. I think this is a perfect game, a perfect opportunity for Ravel to come into the squad. Whether he starts or comes on, he is one of those players who can win a game of football.”
Jamaica dominated much of the second half in the first leg, coming close to equalizing on multiple occasions. Demarai Gray also missed a crucial penalty after the United States took an early lead. However, McLaren is drawing confidence from the team’s away form and believes the Reggae Boyz have what it takes to pull off a result in St. Louis.
The stakes are high as Jamaica looks to defy the odds, overcome the absence of key players, and secure a spot in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals.
Vlahovic: 'Easier' to play for Serbia than Juventus
Dusan Vlahovic says he finds it "easier" to play in Serbia's tactical approach than at Juventus.
The striker has started all 16 games since Thiago Motta took over this season, scoring nine goals in all competitions, with six of those coming in Serie A.
His recent form saw him recalled to Serbia's squad for the Nations League matches this international break, and he got an assist for their equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Saturday.
Overall, Vlahovic has racked up 50 goals at Juve since his move from Fiorentina in January 2022, but he seemingly suggested his game would improve in a different system.
Motta favours a 4-2-3-1 system, with Vlahovic playing as a lone striker, whereas on international duty, he plays as part of a front two, most recently alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic.
"It is a bit easier for me when there is another striker because Mitrovic holds up the ball and engages in aerial duels, so I can make more of my own characteristics and qualities," Vlahovic told RSI when asked the differences between playing for Serbia and Juventus.
"The coach also does not require many defensive duties from me, so that makes it easier too.
"With my physicality, I can't really run that much and am not as fresh in my finishing when I've been working so hard."
Everton clinch Merseyside derby win in Goodison Park's WSL farewell
Everton claimed their first Women's Super League victory of the season by overcoming rivals Liverpool 1-0 in Sunday's Merseyside derby.
Katja Snoeijs converted a contentiously awarded penalty late in the first half at Goodison Park, and despite handing the initiative to Liverpool for much of the game, Everton came away with a much-needed win that lifted them off the foot of the table.
Honoka Hayashi's goal against Crystal Palace in Everton's previous fixture had ended a run of 611 minutes without a Toffees player netting in the WSL, and the Japanese midfielder was the player fouled by her compatriot Fuka Nagano, with the referee pointing to the spot despite the challenge seemingly taking place just outside the box.
Liverpool, who attempted 569 passes – their highest total this season – could not find the equaliser despite mustering 17 shots and 1.5 expected goals (xG), with 0.78 of Everton's 0.9 xG taken up by Snoeijs' spot-kick.
Reds boss Matt Beard has now failed to win any of his last eight meetings with Everton in the WSL since winning 2-1 away from home with West Ham in October 2018 (D2 L5).
Everton, meanwhile, won at Goodison Park in the WSL for the first time at the fifth attempt, in what was their final match in the competition at the iconic stadium.
Aston Villa edged out Palace 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Villa Park, with Ebony Salmon scoring a last-gasp winner.
Villa looked set to be denied their first win of the season when Annabel Blanchard made it 2-2 with just four minutes remaining.
Yet Salmon popped up in the 94th minute to lash home after pouncing on a loose ball on the edge of Palace's area.
My Cato put Palace ahead on the half-hour, but quickfire goals from Anna Patten and Rachel Daly put Villa ahead at the break.
Villa are now unbeaten in their last seven WSL matches against promoted teams, while manager Robert de Pauw avoided becoming the first boss since Jonathan Morgan in November 2021 to fail to win his first eight games in charge of a team in the competition.
In Sunday's other game, Manchester United downed Leicester City 2-0 to get back to winning ways after a run of three straight draws.
Norwegian duo Elisabeth Terland and Celin Bizet Ildhusoy got the goals for the Red Devils at the King Power Stadium, with Marc Skinner's side in fifth, six points adrift of leaders Chelsea, though the same number of points ahead of Liverpool in sixth.
Matters might have been different had Leicester's Hannah Cain not squandered a golden chance in the 38th minute when she somehow fired wide from point-blank range.
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