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Former Barcelona head coach Xavi is intent on finishing his year-long sabbatical after being linked with becoming Manchester United’s next manager.
United opted to sack Erik ten Hag on Monday morning following the team’s 2-1 defeat away to West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been appointed as interim manager with United confirming that they are seeking a permanent replacement.
Xavi has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, with reports last week claiming that United have already held talks with the 44-year-old.
Xavi’s wife also dropped a major hint on Sunday when she posted a picture of her son wearing a United shirt sitting next to his dad on her Instagram stories.
However, several Spanish outlets including Marca and Relevo report that Xavi does not want to interrupt his break with his family and is unlikely to join a new club until next summer.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Xavi, who stepped down from his role at Barcelona at the end of last season, would get ‘instant respect’ from United’s dressing room.
‘It looks like they’re talking to Xavi, from Barcelona. He was one of my favourite players, I think he’s the greatest Spanish player of all time,’ Carragher told Sky Sports.
‘He’s managed Barcelona, he was seen as the next Pep Guardiola, even as a player they thought he’d be a top manager. He lost his job but still won La Liga against a Carlo Ancelotti Real Madrid.
‘Yes he’s out of work at the moment, which makes it easier. There’s a link between someone on the board and Xavi, there’s been some reports there’s been talks in the last few days.
‘I’m not sure what Manchester United can do right now, I don’t think the fans would buy Gareth Southgate, but I don’t think Xavi would be a bad appointment.
‘He’s got huge status as a player, that doesn’t make you a great manager but it does give you instant respect on the training pitch.
‘There’s no-one in that dressing room who has won more than him, and he has been a manager of a huge football club and had success. He’s won a league and a cup competition, up against Carlo Ancelotti. He’s not got a bad CV so I don’t think that would be a bad appointment.’
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