41-year-old former Barcelona midfielder a serious candidate to replace Xavi in the summer – report

As Xavi Hernandez himself admitted earlier this week, his job at Barcelona is dependent on him winning trophies and if he is unable to do so this season, he might no longer be the manager come summer.

“Like any manager at a big club, my job depends on titles. If we’re not competing well by the end of this season, the normal thing would be that I left the club. This is Barça; I know where I am,” he said after the 4-2 defeat to Athletic Club in Copa del Rey.

While his job does not appear to be under imminent threat, more poor results and failure to win a trophy could result in a separation of ways in the summer.

Thiago Motta could be a serious candidate

And, as per Manu Carreno on El Larguero, former Barcelona and Italy midfielder Thiago Motta could be a serious option to succeed Xavi as manager if the latter leaves at the end of the season.

Motta, 41, is currently the manager of Serie A side Bologna, having taken over the Italian outfit in the summer of 2022. Prior to that, the ex-PSG midfielder had stints with Genoa and Spezia.

Motta is someone who knows the Barcelona philosophy well, having spent eight years at the club as a player between 1999 and 2007.

And his Bologna team has been doing fairly well this season, competing for the European spots in Serie A, which has seemingly caught the attention of Barça.

As per the update, Barcelona president Joan Laporta is an admirer of the 41-year-old manager and considers him as a candidate to replace Xavi if the latter is relieved of his duties.

At this point, all of it is conjecture and one would assume that Barça might look for a more established manager to take over their project if Xavi is indeed no longer at the club.