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10 months ago
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With Xavi Hernandez set to step down as the manager of FC Barcelona at the end of the season, the hunt for a replacement is already underway.
The Catalans’ sporting director Deco has been entrusted with the responsibility of finding potential candidates to take over from Xavi, although the final say will likely rest with Joan Laporta.
Several names have already been mentioned as possible targets to become the next manager, one of whom is Sergio Conceicao of FC Porto.
The 49-year-old is understood to be a name favoured by Deco, while the fact that he is represented by Jorge Mendes also gives his candidature some weight.
Laporta rules out Conceicao
However, according to the latest report from SPORT, Barcelona president Laporta has ruled out the possibility of hiring Conceicao to replace Xavi in the summer.
Conceicao’s contract with Porto expires on June 30 and it was Mendes who knocked on Barça’s door offering one of the coaches he has in his portfolio.
While Laporta is grateful to Mendes because the Portuguese has helped Barça in the incorporations of Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix, and renewals such as Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal, he has already made it clear that Conceicao is not in the club’s plans.
Laporta does not want Conceicao. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)Conceicao does not fit Barça philosophy
As per the report, Laporta believes that Conceicao’s teams do not fit the Barcelona blueprint and ideologies.
The Portuguese tactician prefers to use a 4-4-2 setup while Barça have always favoured the 4-3-3 formation. Beyond that, Conceicao’s bet on physicality and muscle in some key positions on the field is not to the president’s liking either.
Laporta, as things stand, continues to dream of Jurgen Klopp, even though it looks impossible at this point. But the Barcelona president prefers someone from the German school of football, giving weightage to candidates like Hansi Flick or possibly even Julian Nagelsmann.
