Barcelona B head coach Rafael Marquez has expressed an interest in becoming the team's new first-team manager, with Xavi set to vacate the role at the end of the campaign.

Following Saturday's 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal, Xavi announced that he would be leaving his managerial position at the end of the season.

Xavi said that the "club needs a change of dynamic", with the 44-year-old under immense pressure due to the team's struggles during the 2023-24 campaign.

Barcelona B head coach Marquez is allegedly highly-rated by Barcelona president Joan Laporta, with the Mexican said to have been identified as a first-team manager in waiting.

Marquez represented the Catalan side as a player between 2003 and 2010, making 242 appearances, winning four La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey and two Champions League titles.

The Mexican's 'tactical acumen and deep understanding of the club's philosophy' has reportedly placed him in a strong position to be considered for the role.

Marquez has now said that he 'would not be able to say no' to becoming Barcelona's new head coach if presented with the opportunity this summer.

"Who wouldn't want to be Barca coach? I will continue working hard, it's only my second season as a coach", Mundo Deportivo quotes Marquez as saying.

"The board will have time to think carefully between now and the end of the season. But, you can't say no to an opportunity like this!"

Xavi admitted after the 5-3 defeat to Villarreal on Saturday that the team have "emotionally collapsed".

"We're in a hole with a negative dynamic. The entire team is emotionally collapsed. It's a massive blow. We were good in the second half. The team deserved to win, but we lost it ourselves," he said.

Barcelona have lost three of their last five matches in all competitions, suffering a 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup on January 14, before the 4-2 reverse to Athletic Bilbao in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey last week.

The Catalan outfit trailed 2-0 against Villarreal on Saturday before they led 3-2 in the 71st minute, but the Yellow Submarine then netted three times in the latter stages of the contest to secure a 5-3 win.

Barcelona are currently third in the La Liga table, 10 points behind leaders Real Madrid, while they are only three points ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao. body check tags ::