SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 11 hrs 19 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Barcelona 'consider Arteta, Klopp, Nagelsmann as Xavi replacements'

:Headline: Barcelona 'consider Arteta, Klopp, Nagelsmann as Xavi replacements':
Barcelona reportedly identify Mikel Arteta, Julian Nagelsmann and Jurgen Klopp as potential successors to Xavi following the Spaniard's exit announcement.
Sports Mole

Barcelona have reportedly drawn up a three-man shortlist of possible replacements for Xavi ahead of the manager's resignation at the end of the season.

In the wake of Saturday's crushing 5-3 home loss to Villarreal in La Liga, Xavi - who had been under pressure for a number of weeks - announced that he would be leaving the club once the campaign comes to a close.

During an explosive post-match press conference, Xavi accused sections of the media of making his job unbearable, claiming that managing the Blaugrana is an "unpleasant" and "cruel" experience and affirming that the club will benefit from fresh blood.

The Barcelona hierarchy have a few months to vet potential successors to the La Liga-winning head coach, and Barcelona Atletic coach Rafael Marquez has already expressed an interest in taking the top job.

However, the former Blaugrana defender will seemingly face stiff competition to land the manager's job, as according to Gerard Romero - via The Sun - Barca have identified three high-profile candidates whom they wish to interview.

Among them is soon-to-be ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who confirmed his own shock departure from Anfield just one day before Xavi's bombshell, and sporting director Deco is said to be making contact with intermediaries.

Barcelona's efforts to lure Klopp to Catalonia will likely prove unfruitful, though, as the 56-year-old is expected to take a sabbatical for around a year before making a firm decision on his next career move.

Klopp - who confessed to "running out of energy" in the Reds hotseat - has ruled out the possibility of taking charge of another English club, but the German national team have been after his services for a long time.

The door will open for Klopp to manage his country if Julian Nagelsmann is swiftly removed from his post, and the former Bayern Munich boss is also believed to be on Barcelona's radar.

After his bolt-from-the-blue sacking from Bayern, Nagelsmann was hired to succeed Hansi Flick in the Germany dugout, but the 36-year-old has won just one of his opening four matches in the Mannschaft dugout.

Nagelsmann's contract with the DFB only runs until the end of Euro 2024, and an extension is unlikely to be offered to him if Germany under-perform at their home European Championships this summer.

Finally, former Barcelona youth product and current Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is admired by Blaugrana chiefs, having transformed the Gunners from an eighth-placed side to Premier League title challengers.

The 41-year-old failed to make a single senior appearance for Barcelona during his playing days, but he played 42 times for their B team and sees his contract with Arsenal expire in the summer of 2025.

Owing to Saturday's gripping defeat to Villarreal, Barcelona are 11 points behind leaders Girona in third place in the La Liga table, albeit with a game in hand, and they were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao last week.

Xavi's side are still competing for Champions League glory, though, and the first leg of their last-16 tie with Italian champions Napoli will be played on February 21. body check tags ::

amp_article__535163 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-01-29 21:32:41:
html db last update - 2024-01-29 21:32:41 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Xavi

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:
BC
Read Next:
Motta responds to Barcelona links after Xavi announcement
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Xavi Rafael Marquez Jurgen Klopp Julian Nagelsmann Deco Hansi Flick Mikel Arteta Gerard Romero Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Motta responds to Barcelona links after Xavi announcement
Three left-backs, five Londoners: Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week
Sporting raid: Amorim 'wants to bring four players with him' to Old Trafford
Aston Villa to rival Newcastle for Kieran Tierney?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Tuesday's Champions League predictions including Real Madrid vs. AC Milan

1

TC

Two European giants 'to rival' Real Madrid for Chelsea midfielder

2

TE

Three left-backs, five Londoners: Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

NEW

3

TL

Tuesday's Transfer Talk Update: Osimhen, Jackson, Fernandez

4

TT

Preview: Red Star vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PR

Hoping for the best: Chelsea star Palmer 'to undergo scan' on knee injury

6

HF

Is Haaland injured? Guardiola reveals all ahead of Sporting clash

7

IH

Preview: One Day International Series: West Indies vs. England - prediction, team news, series so far

8

PO

Team News: Liverpool vs. B. Leverkusen injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

9

TN

Preview: Inter Milan vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PI


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .