Barcelona reserve team manager Rafa Marquez set for shock departure

Less than 30 days ago, Barça Atletic manager Rafa Marquez committed his future to the club, extending his contract until 2025.

Given the subsidiary team’s stunning run last season that took them to the doorstep of promotion, he hoped to make a strong case to become Xavi’s successor in the first team. However, Joan Laporta and Co. preferred that he stay with the youth side.

Now, however, there appears to be a dramatic turn of the tables. According to the latest update from Moises Llorens, Marquez is set for a shock departure from the club.

Enroute Mexico

As revealed by the journalist, Marquez has an important proposal from the Mexican national team that he is seriously considering.

The offer on his table is for a whopping six seasons. Of them, the Barça Atletic coach will serve two seasons as an assistant coach after which he will take over as the head coach for four years.

Marquez set to leave Barcelona. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Unless Marquez dramatically changes his mind, his stint at Barcelona is coming to an end. He will not be Barça Atletic’s manager next season, forcing Deco and Joan Laporta to find a new coach.

Drastic changes

While the Barcelona first team is set for massive changes in terms of playing style under Hansi Flick, the board would have hoped the subsidiary side maintains stability at least to avoid changes on all levels.

Marquez’s departure, however, changes everything. With both the senior and subsidiary teams set to see massive changes in management in the same year, it remains to be seen how it impacts young players and their promotions.

Notably, Oscar Lopez who was the manager of Juvenil A for the last six years also left his role earlier this year with Juliano Belletti of Barça Atletic taking over as the new manager. It is indeed a summer of drastic changes.