Confirmation of the leading candidate to take over from Xavi on the bench at La Liga giants Barcelona has today been forthcoming.
The info comes courtesy of Mundo Deportivo, and points towards Rafa Márquez as the tactician in question.
With managerial options for Barcelona looking somewhat thin on the ground, Márquez is for his part understood to tick the most boxes when it comes to what Joan Laporta and co. are seeking.
Crucially, he knows Barca inside out, having spent a significant chunk of his playing career on the books at the Camp Nou, before taking up the reins of the club’s reserve outfit.
Additionally, the Mexican boasts a good relationship with both president Laporta, and sporting director Deco.
His familiarity with the latest crop of young talent emerging from La Masia is a further advantage, with the Blaugrana keen to promote as many academy talents as possible, amid their ongoing financial troubles.
Hansi Flick is also touted by MD as a potential arrival in Catalunya’s capital, albeit with it noted that ‘against him is that he does not know the idiosyncrasy of the club, its formative football or the language’.
For these reasons and more, should Barcelona ultimately opt to pull the trigger on Xavi’s dismissal, it is Rafa Márquez who should be considered the frontrunner to step in.
Conor Laird | GSFN
