Xavi Announces Departure from FC Barcelona – Luis Enrique to Replace Him?

One defeat too many. Coming out of a new humiliation suffered by FC Barcelona against Villarreal (3-5), Xavi caused a real earthquake by announcing his departure at the end of the current financial year. “I would like to announce that on June 30, I will no longer continue as coach of Barça. I think the situation needs to change course and, as cules, I cannot afford the current situation”he declared in a conference after a crisis meeting with the entire Blaugrana management.

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From now on, the leaders of the Spanish champion must work on the identity of his replacement at the dawn of next season. In this sense, the Spanish press has drawn up a first list of high-sounding names officiating on the Old Continent. Besides Thiago Motta, and Rafael Marquez who were mentioned on multiple occasions on the other side of the Pyrenees at a time when Xavi was becoming more and more contested, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, free from any contract since the end of his adventure at Glasgow or even Michel (Girona) and Imanol Alguacil (Real Sociedad) also appear in this exhaustive list. But as surprising as it may seem, Sport indicates this Sunday that the Catalan locker room would insistently demand Luis Enrique.

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Indeed, the Spanish media suggests that a large majority of the locker room would push for the Iberian to turn back. In the past, a large number of the elements making up the current Blaugrana squad have evolved under his command, like Sergi Roberto and Marc-André Ter Stegen. If the two cities won the Champions League in 2015 with the Asturian, the latter greatly participated in the rise of the Spaniard, repositioned at right-back. In addition to these two captains, Barça’s young players seem excited by the idea of ​​playing under his orders again, like Pedri.

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During an interview, the Spanish midfielder sang the praises of the Gijon native, believing that he was the best coach he had known so far. Same story with Alejandro Baldé and Inigo Martinez, who had the joy of playing in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with the Spanish selection when it was coached by the Iberian. But it should be remembered that this information should be taken with a grain of salt. Certainly, in the past, Luis Enrique has never hidden his desire to officiate again in Catalonia. However, it seems hardly inconceivable to see him leave his post at Paris Saint-Germain who bet on him last summer in order to trigger a new dynamic in the French capital. As a reminder, the 53-year-old technician has signed up with the reigning French champion until 2025. It remains to be seen the opinion of the main party concerned on the matter.

Pub. 01/28/2024 1:30 p.m. Updated 01/28/2024 2:42 p.m.

2024-01-28 12:30:28
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