Reports suggest that Xavi, Barcelona's coach, vehemently opposed the potential sale of Ronald Araujo to Bayern Munich during the January transfer window, even going as far as threatening to resign if the deal was sanctioned.

Bayern had expressed a strong interest in acquiring Araujo for €80 million (£69m/$88m), with Thomas Tuchel expressing admiration for the talented center-back.

Facing resistance from Xavi, Bayern shifted their focus to a more cost-effective solution, securing Eric Dier from Tottenham Hotspur on a six-month loan with an option for an additional full season.

Despite Tuchel's efforts, Araujo, reportedly convinced by a call from the Bayern manager, remained committed to Barcelona, and Xavi's determination prevented the sale.

The pursuit of Dier by Bayern showcased the influence of Harry Kane, who advocated for his teammate in discussions with Tuchel.

Dier has made two Bundesliga appearances for Bayern since joining on loan and aims to maintain his place against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.

In the midst of this, Xavi, resolute in retaining his squad's key players, focuses on guiding Barcelona to victory against Alaves in an upcoming away fixture, aiming to narrow the 10-point gap with league leaders Real Madrid.