Reports claim there have been a breakdown in relations between Barcelona sporting director, Deco, and club manager, Xavi.

There was a reported squad list scandal ahead of the game against Antwerp. Xavi didn’t want to go with the team’s senior players initially, but ended up doing so.

Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and Ronald Araujo were initially omitted from the squad list for the Antwerp game because Xavi wanted to rest them, but they ended up going.

Xavi tried to play down the controversy, as he told Marca: “The squad was agreed upon with Deco and the president, we are in constant communication.

“The last decision is mine. I decide the list, I am the coach. You generate controversy where there is none. It makes no sense.”

However, speaking after the Antwerp game, Deco seemed to contradict Xavi.

“The call-ups are a matter for the coach. We did not come to a consensus on anything,” he said, as quoted by Football Espana.

“There was a change of plans regarding travel and we have decided that everyone should travel. It is an issue that was discussed for management reasons.”