FC Barcelona is actively preparing the succession of Xavi, who has decided not to continue his mission on the Blaugrana bench at the end of the season. Joan Laporta is in advanced contact with only one coach.
It’s becoming clearer again regarding the identity of the next FC Barcelona coach. After Xavi’s announcement of his departure at the end of the season at the end of January, Joan Laporta, the president of the Blaugranas, quickly settled on the track of Hansi Flick, with Roberto De Zerbi in plan B. But it’s is indeed the German technician who is in advanced contact with the leaders of the Blaugrana.
Free since being sidelined from the Mannschaft bench, Flick, winner of the Champions League with Bayern in 2020, is ready to take the reins of Barça. He began looking for assistants fluent in Spanish and German. According to Relevo, he met Domènec Torrent, assistant to Pep Guardiola for 10 years at Barça, Bayern and Man City, and currently without a club.
De Zerbi, is it over?
The Madrid media adds that the trail leading to Roberto De Zerbi is really complicated. The Italian strategist is under contract with Brighton, who would demand a transfer fee to let him leave, and the former Sassuolo coach also has demands if he takes over at FCB. He would obviously like to have total control over the sports sector, including the next transfer window.
After Xavi’s announcement of his departure, the names of Rafa Marquez (the coach of Barça’s reserve team), Thiago Motta and Sergio Conceiçao were cited by the Catalan press, then Barça then turned to more experienced technicians, like Xabi Alonso, Jürgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel or Mikel Arteta. But it is Hansi Flick who is Joan Laporta’s first choice…
