Barcelona rule out 36-year-old German manager as Xavi’s successor for two reasons – report

Barcelona have begun the hunt for a new manager to take over from Xavi Hernandez, who will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Reports indicate that Barcelona president Joan Laporta is leaning towards bringing in someone from the German school of football.

It has led to strong links with Hansi Flick, while the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp are also being considered.

Another German name on Barcelona’s agenda to succeed Xavi is that of Julian Nagelsmann. The 36-year-old, currently the head coach of the German national team, will become free after the UEFA Euro 2024 when his contract expires and is being looked at by the Catalans.

Nagelsmann unlikely to succeed Xavi

However, as per a fresh report from journalist Toni Juanmarti on SPORT, Nagelsmann is now being seen as a remote option to succeed Xavi at Barcelona. In fact, his name has been ‘virtually’ ruled out.

The 36-year-old is rated well within the club offices, and the fact that he could arrive for free, as his contract with the German national team runs down after the Euros is also seen as a plus point.

But as things stand, he does not generate total consensus at Can Barça, mainly due to two key reasons.

Off the table. (Photo by SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

Why Barcelona do not want Nagelsmann

For starters, the Euro 2024 schedule is seen as a hindrance as it will end in mid-July, only after which Nagelsmann would become free to take over the reins at Barcelona.

That would be far from ideal considering that the club would need the manager to plan for the next season. Even though all of it can be done over the phone, the scenario would be far from ideal.

Beyond that, Barcelona would ideally prefer to appoint someone with more experience and a proven track record. Nagelsmann did a fine job at TSG Hoffenheim, but things did not go as well as expected at Bayern Munich while his Germany team has also not performed all too well.

While nobody at Barcelona doubts his style, there are concerns about how he would deal with players and other difficult situations that might arise.

As such, Nagelsmann’s name is now pretty much off the table as far as Xavi’s replacement is concerned.