Barcelona might have an advantage in potential pursuit of Jurgen Klopp – report

Barcelona are set for a managerial change in the summer as Xavi Hernandez has announced his decision to step down from the position at the end of the season.

Having taken over as manager in November 2021, Xavi led the club to the La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup triumph last season.

But the current campaign has been off to a rocky start and at midpoint, the Catalans are already out of contention for two trophies and the league title looks like a distant possibility as well.

The pressure had been mounting on Xavi for some time now and the manager has decided that the team is need of a change in dynamics and will be moving on in the summer.

Jurgen Klopp one of the targets to replace Xavi

Xavi’s announcement to leave Barcelona came hours after Jurgen Klopp had confirmed that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

The German tactician has been a ‘dream’ target for Barcelona president Joan Laporta, but his contract at Liverpool meant that he was never a realistic possibility.

Now, though, with the former Borussia Dortmund boss announcing his decision to leave the Reds, his name is back on the agenda at Barça, despite the fact that Klopp has said he wishes to take a sabbatical after the end of the season.

Barcelona may have an advantage

Can Barcelona tempt Klopp? (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Amidst all this, though, SPORT’s Jordi Gil is reporting that Barcelona may have an advantage if they decide to pursue Klopp to replace Xavi at the end of the season.

The 56-year-old has already confirmed that he will not coach any other team in the Premier League, meaning his future would lie outside of England, and La Liga could emerge as an option.

The decision on his immediate future will be discussed with his wife Ulla. The Klopps have a 5,000 square metre estate in the town of Andratx in Mallorca.

Therefore, they could be tempted to swap the rain and cold of Liverpool for the sun and the more pleasant Mediterranean climate.

Barcelona, in this sense, would have an important advantage if they enter the bidding to sign him. After all, both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid recently renewed Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone’s contracts, respectively.

While a return to Germany is plausible, Bayern Munich are eyeing Xabi Alonso as Thomas Tuchel’s replacement. A move to Italy is not said to be under consideration while PSG are on the rise under Luis Enrique and might not consider a change, so a switch to France would also be out of the question.

As such, the Barcelona bench is one of the few options left for Klopp to manage a big club after he steps down in England.