Lionel Messi hints on possible replacement for Koeman at Barcelona

Former Barcelona hitman, Lionel Messi has reportedly hinted that the club’s legend, Xavi Hernandez may replace Ronald Koeman who was sacked on Wednesday night following a 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano in an away league fixture.

His departure ends an unhappy chapter for the former player who won them their first European Cup in 1992 and leaves the club in turmoil on and off the field.

The defeat left Barcelona sitting ninth in La Liga on 15 points, six behind a quartet of clubs led by Real Madrid.

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In the 2021-22 campaign, Barcelona have picked up just 15 points from 10 games in La Liga and have already lost twice in the group stage of this season’s Champions League.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta wants to sign Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez as Koeman’s replacement and negotiations with the Al-Sadd manager have already begun, reported Spanish media outlet Cadena COPE.

The report has also claimed that Messi wanted his former captain to replace Koeman as Barcelona boss before he ended up parting his ways with his boyhood club.

Messi and Xavi played together at Barcelona for 11 long years before the latter left the club in 2015. Xavi spent the next four seasons at Al-Sadd as a player before becoming the side’s head coach. He has so far won four trophies with the Qatari club as manager.

The Catalans approached Xavi with official talks weeks ago and now Laporta and Co. are looking to see if they can secure the services of the Spaniard, who is currently contracted with Qatar-based Al-Sadd.

Barcelona will take time to make an official announcement regarding Koeman’s replacement as the process has just started, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has a credible record in European soccer.

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Meanwhile, Barcelona B’s head coach, Sergi Barjuan, could be an option as the first team’s interim coach.

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“Ronald Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva. FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the Club and wishes him all the best in his professional career,” Barcelona said in an official statement.

Koeman resigned from his job as the Netherlands manager in August 2020 to take the helm at the Camp Nou in succession to Quique Setién, who was dismissed after an 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in a Champions League quarter-final played on neutral ground because of Covid-19.