Xavi Hernandez says the impending exit of Barcelona goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, “leaves a bad taste.”

The ‘keeper shocked the world football community when he announced that he would not be renewing his contract with Barca when it expires at the end of next season.

And Xavi says he is not looking forward to the day his friend leaves in search of a new football adventure.

"Knowing Victor, who is an extraordinary guy, it leaves a bad taste that he is leaving," Xavi told Mundo Deportivo.

"A friend is going, a key member of this house. He has maybe had the worst media treatment I have seen in my career. He has always overcome the criticism himself. The more pressure is put on him, the more criticism he faces, the better he plays."

Meanwhile, Barca continue to insist that they have not given up on convincing Valdes to stay.

The club’s vice-president, Josep-Maria Bartomeu, says they have no intention of selling Valdes before his contract is up, or buying a replacement anytime soon.

And he says that president Sandro Rosell has told Valdes that he still has time to reconsider ending his affiliation to the club where he has played for 12 seasons, and won three Champions Leagues and five La Liga titles.

“We would prefer for him to stay until 2014 than to sell him this summer,” Bartomeu said, according to Soccernet.

“We have no fixed date in this case - one option is that he sees out his contract. So we would not sign a new 'keeper.

"Rosell has had contact with Valdes to let him know clearly that the doors are open for him to continue at the club.”