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Replacing Ronald Koeman in 2022 with Xavi was a rather straightforward decision. With Barcelona in financial problems, and straying further away from their ‘roots’, the Spaniard was expected to take over the job without much fuss and hopefully guide them forward.
After winning La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup last season, Xavi has announced his decision to leave Barcelona this season after nearly three seasons in charge.
Replacing Xavi, though, will not be as easy. He has clearly won over the dressing room, with the players publicly and privately asking him to continue at the club, and not to mention, of course, that the new coach will also have to adapt to the Catalans’ financial restrictions.
Roger Torello has provided an update on the same, claiming that Barcelona are finding it difficult to reach a consensus over the new coach at the club, with top officials in constant disagreements over the potential names.
De Zerbi, Flick, or someone else?
There are, however, several names on the list for Barcelona, with Hansi Flick and Roberto De Zerbi considered the front-runners for the job.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta is considered a huge fan of the German school of football and is leading the support for Flick. The former Bayern Munich manager is reportedly ‘honoured’ with the blaugranes interest.
Similarly, current Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel is also on Barcelona’s radar, especially on the back of the announcement that he will leave the Bavarian giants at the end of the season.
Barcelona are also keeping tabs on Julian Nagelsmann, who is managing the German National Team right now. He has a contract till the end of the 2024 European Championship, and pursuing his signature is difficult right now.
Barcelona and Laporta’s dream of Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, and Jurgen Klopp, though, pursuing whom will be next to impossible.