The precocious architect who is not afraid to rethink Barça

BarcelonaIn the summer of 2020, when he was only 30 years old, Xevi Pujol became the youngest sporting director in the Liga Endesa. The Catalan, whom Jaume Ponsarnau saw coaching in the Bàsquet Manresa youth system when he proposed he be his assistant, moved from the court to the offices with great ease. His arrival caused some surprise. "They made a few jokes, because they were a bit surprised to see someone so young, but I was lucky enough to see how the machinery works for a long time. The sporting director makes the final decision, but before that, there's a lot of discussion with the people in the offices and the technical staff", explained in an interview with ARA.

Pujol is not one to beat around the bush. "I like to focus on what I'm doing at any given moment. It's a privilege to be able to dedicate myself to professional sports at home. Right now I have so much work, so many things that fill my time, that I don't think about it much either," assured the young man, who used the German league as a transfer market. The gamble was very successful, but it was the following season when he achieved excellence. The Bages team, coached by Pedro Martínez, took advantage of the performance of players like Sylvain Francisco, Chima Moneke, or Ismael Bako to reach the final of the Basketball Champions League.

After working with coaches of the prestige of Jaume Ponsarnau, Joan Peñarroya, Aleix Duran, Ibon Navarro, Diego Ocampo or Pedro Martínez, their mark became very clear. "We wanted players who were willing in their effort and solid when competing for the ball and running the court. We were looking for a brave and proactive team that did things collectively. In attack, we looked for good spaces. In defense, to be connected. And all this implies having a clear idea of what everyone has to do," stated Pujol, who earned a reputation as an architect of impossible miracles.

Before becoming technical director, Pujol worked as an assistant coach with Marc Estany, whom he has now signed for Barça's technical staff. The two, who competed in the Minicopa as youngsters, forged a great friendship. Journalist Jordi Bofill brought them together in a report published in ARA in April 2020.

From Manresa to Vitoria

Pujol landed at Kosner Baskonia in the summer of 2025. Although the Catalan's discoveries, who opted for Paolo Galbiati as coach and rescued Eugene Omoruyi from Al Nasr of Dubai, led the Basque team to win the Copa del Rey, his situation in Vitoria was very uncomfortable. Although he was supposed to leave, Alfredo Salazar never stepped aside and did everything he could to ensure his successor was Juan Pedro Cazorla.

When he was planning to dismiss him, the Basque club learned of Barça's interest and it was then that they tried to obtain economic compensation. When he was planning to dismiss him, the Basque club learned of Barça's interest and it was then that they tried to obtain economic compensation. Tired of not being able to negotiate, the Culer entity took matters into its own hands and, finally, this Monday announced the new technical secretary. Pujol is 36 years old and announced his departure to Baskonia two months ago.

Barça, which is trying to replicate the model that worked in Manresa and Vitoria, has already signed nine players, but there will be more. Olivier Nkamhoua, Justin Robinson, Josh Nebo, Umoja Gibson, Agustín Ubal, Stanley Umude, Olek Balcerowski, Tyrese Martin, and Tosan Evbuomwan are already confirmed. In addition, the club has incorporated Aleksander Sekulic as coach. The new scenario does not excite the fans at the Palau, who do not know many of the signings, but Pujol's obsession is to rejuvenate the team to move away from controlled basketball and opt for modern basketball. The recipe is clear: proactive defense, fast play, and offensive rebounding to have the initiative in the game.