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9 months ago
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Although adjustments in the squad can be expected next summer, Barcelona’s biggest dilemma presently remains identifying Xavi’s successor, who is set to part ways with the club once the season draws to an end.
An array of top names have found themselves linked with the Catalan giants, as Barcelona are meticulously evaluating the pros and cons of the targets they have narrowed down.
One of the managers shortlisted is Brighton & Hove Albion’s Roberto De Zerbi. He has been renowned for his excellent work with youngsters and could be entrusted to take over the helm at Barcelona next season.
Best-placed to replace Xavi
Indeed, according to AS Roberto De Zerbi is the best-placed coach to take charge of Barça next season.
People close to Joan Laporta consider him to have high chances for the managerial role at Barça. In fact, reports have even argued that Laporta has been keeping a close eye on him following Pep Guardiola’s recommendation of the Italian coach.
Moreover, De Zerbi’s agents, Edmundo Kabchi and Edoardo Crnjar, who are the same as Ronald Araujo’s, were recently in Barcelona meeting with sporting director Deco.
De Zerbi may not have plied his trade at an elite European club, but his track record with Brighton, Sassuolo, and Shakhtar Donetsk indicates that he has a strong grip on positional play fundamentals, which would coincide with Barcelona’s traditional ideals.
The next Barcelona manager? (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)Who are the other contenders?
Hansi Flick, Thomas Tuchel, and Julian Nagelsmann are three other candidates to keep an eye out, as they have been linked tremendously with Barcelona over the past few weeks.
Flick and Tuchel especially have strong chances since the pair will be available as free agents in the summer transfer window, contrary to De Zerbi, who has a hefty €15 million release clause at Brighton.
Other names like Luis Enrique, Mikel Arteta, and Jurgen Klopp were also considered, but have been ruled out for various reasons.
Both Enrique and Arteta are under contract at PSG and Arsenal, respectively, and do not plan on leaving while Klopp, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, is firm on taking a sabbatical.
As such, De Zerbi is left as the best-placed to replace Xavi, although a final decision is yet to be made.
