FC Barcelona sporting director Deco has ruled out the possibility of hiring Mikel Arteta, Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola to replace Xavi.
The Catalan club have been looking for a new coach since legend Xavi confirmed earlier this year that he would leave the club at the end of the season. Arteta, the Arsenal manager, is said to be one of Barca's preferred candidates for the job, but he was passed over by Deco, as were the managers of Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Blaugrana sporting director clarified the situation in comments given to Què t'hi Jugues: “Obviously you can appreciate top managers like Guardiola, Klopp and Arteta, but they are not available. There is no discussion with them and there is no point in mentioning them. We don’t talk to any managers.”
“No discussion”
It was reported in early March that the Camp Nou had already made contact with Arteta with a view to a possible transfer this summer. Roberto De Zerbi, the Brighton coach, had been presented as an alternative, but the managers of the English club are said to have cooled their interest in the Italian.
Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is also in the running, with president Joan Laporta seen as an admirer of the currently unemployed manager.
