An early insight into the race to replace Xavi Hernández on the bench at Spanish giants Barcelona has been forthcoming online.
This, of course, comes fresh off Xavi’s shock announcement that he intends to move on come the season’s close.
Speaking in a press conference after watching his side slip to an alarming defeat at the hands of Villarreal, the Spanish tactician confirmed that his stint in the Barca hotseat is set to come to an imminent end:
“I want to announce that on June 30 I will no longer continue as the coach at Barça. I think the situation needs to change course, and as a culer, I cannot allow the current situation.”
And yet, before the dust has even had time to settle on Xavi’s announcement, attentions have already turned to just who could be in line to replace the 44-year-old at Barcelona.
Recent weeks have seen a whole host of tacticians tipped for the post, from Pep Guardiola to Thiago Motta to Mikel Arteta.
In the early hours of Sunday, though, it is another pair of managers who have seen their respective Blaugrana prospects weighed up.
The info comes courtesy of RAC1, who have confirmed that Rafael Márquez is not under consideration by Joan Laporta and co.
Currently in charge of Barcelona Atlètic, former defender Márquez tonight expressed his willingness to make the step up to the first-team setup.
A whole host of reliable sources, however, have assured that the Mexican will not be afforded such an opportunity.
From here, RAC1 add that, at present, ‘there is no name on the table’.
And yet, with a crucial call to be made over the months ahead, Jürgen Klopp, who this week announced his intention to step down at Liverpool, ‘is the one that is most in the minds of the people who have to make the decision’.
Conor Laird | GSFN
