FC Barcelona clear on their coach option to replace Xavi next season

Although there remains ample opportunity for Barcelona to sway Xavi into remaining at FC Barcelona, there has yet to be any sign from Xavi’s camp indicating a desire to extend his tenure with the Catalan giants.

As such, the Blaugranes are compelled to keep their hunt for a new coach alive, observantly monitoring the shortlisted candidates, including Thomas Tuchel, Roberto De Zerbi, and Hansi Flick.

Recent reports suggest that Flick is currently the frontrunner among the Barcelona hierarchy, bolstered by his connection with Pini Zahavi.

Flick in the driving seat

Now, as per Mundo Deportivo the 59-year-old coach emerges as the easiest choice since he is not presiding over any teams at the moment.

Despite being relieved of his duties with the German national team in September 2023, Flick’s track record at Bayern Munich, coupled with his extensive experience and approachability, sets him apart from his fellow German counterparts.

He most notably won the ‘sextuple’ at Bayern and had a big hand to play in dishing out Barcelona’s worst defeat in the Champions League.

Moreover, an aspect that strengthens Flick’s case considerably is that he garners additional support from Laporta’s trusted confidant and renowned agent, Pini Zahavi.

The agent gets along well with Laporta and was instrumental in getting Robert Lewandowski’s 2022 transfer from Bayern Munich approved.

Already getting ready for the role

Indeed, the German manager has been investigating the club for a while now, aiming to be aptly prepared in the event the job offer slides in.

Flick is actively seeking assistants who speak German and Spanish in addition to preemptively studying the language to guarantee effective communication.

Furthermore, he reportedly made inquiries about the inner workings of the club, even taking an interest in the best spots to visit in the city.

Luis Enrique and Rafa Marquez ‘unlikely’ alternatives

Even though Barcelona would be more than happy to welcome Luis Enrique back at the Catalan club, the fact that he still has a 1-year contract with PSG makes a potential deal complicated, especially considering that the Spaniard is known for fulfilling his contracts.

Rafa Marquez, on the other hand, is trusted by the club and is having a good season with Barcelona’s B team.

However, he massively lacks the experience, and is not considered ‘media-friendly’.