FC Barcelona has been under constant financial constraint since the disastrous reign of Josep Maria Bartomeu. The club, which once used to make star signings like Neymar, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic, and more, has now become a shadow of itself and is even facing issues with registering their team players in La Liga.
Ever since Xavi announced his departure at the end of the current season, there have been rumors and speculations over the selection of a future Barcelona manager, considering the club’s difficulty in even signing a new manager for their team. But it seems like Laporta’s dream choice wouldn’t be taking up the job of managing the most difficult club in the world.
Barcelona’s Sporting Director Downplays Search for Xavi’s Replacement
Days after reports confirming that Laporta dreams of making German coach Jurgen Klopp the Barcelona manager, it has come to the media that the German coach is not going to take up that opportunity as he wants to take a rest from coaching, at least for a year after recently announcing his departure from Liverpool at the end of the current season.
Despite sporting director Deco claiming otherwise, Barcelona is desperately looking for their future manager post this season and has been dealt a huge blow after Jurgen Klopp reportedly refused the managerial role offered by Laporta.
But after that, several coaching names have come to the fore, with some of them already discussed by Deco in a recent interview. While the sporting director refused the first-team appointment of Barcelona Athletic Manager Rafa Marquez, he also played down the rumors of Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho joining the team in the future.
🔵🔴 Deco on Rafa Marquez: "He’s improving as a coach. The experience in the Academy is great because he’s improving in the difficulties".
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 8, 2024
"But he’s young, we are not working to bring him as first team coach right now”, told @esport3. pic.twitter.com/ZbgErufTip
🔵🔴 Barça director Deco on rumours about Mourinho: "He's my friend, but I'm not speaking to José since long time".
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 8, 2024
Thiago Motta? "I didn't see many games of Bologna as we are busy travelling, I follow other teams. He's doing great but there's nothing with him", told @esport3. pic.twitter.com/cSorJb8QRY
🔵🔴 Barça director Deco on Guardiola's return: "We are not speaking to any manager, really. Zero talks".
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 8, 2024
"Pep Guardiola is under contract with another club, I’d never speak about him – it’d be disrespectful for Man City", told @esport3. pic.twitter.com/YgcH36akCj
Even though Deco tried to cool off the media’s interest in the future managerial role options, the rumor mill has yet to stop, with numerous more names coming into the frame.
Challenges Await Any Manager at Barcelona Amid Financial Constraints
No matter who is chosen as the future Barcelona Manager, the challenges the man has to face would be uphill as the team has been in scrambles emotionally this season.
🗣️ – Ronald Koeman: "Being a Barça coach is an assault on your mental health. There is a lot of stress and pressure. It is much more fun to be a Barcelona player than a coach, and Xavi, as a Catalan and part of the club, has surely noticed it. It's the hardest coaching job I've… pic.twitter.com/SluuzSucuY
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) February 8, 2024
The overall squad, despite making numerous comebacks in games, has been emotionally destroyed and has been leaking goals in the first few minutes of literally every match. And when they play well and are in control of the game, they just give away their match by conceding silly goals.
Such has been the downfall of the team this season, that the defense which conceded the least amount of goals last season in the whole of Europe, has been found asleep and has been leaking goals day in and day out.
Despite such poor displays, never doubt the quality the squad possesses. With absolutely brilliant youngsters in the likes of Gavi, Pedri, Balde, Fermin, Fort, Guiu, new signing Roque, and the emerging Lamine Yamal, along with experienced stars at the peak of their career in the likes of Lewandowski, Gundogan, Frenkie, Araujo and ter Stegen, the squad is one to beat and oozes quality all over the pitch when they play coercively.
🚨🚨| Many top coaches want to join FC Barcelona despite the club's financial problems. @sport pic.twitter.com/R01ZWShDig
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) February 8, 2024
Due to such a talented squad, despite a severely challenging fanbase and managerial role, many managers would love to work for the club and reports have been suggesting a few of them already in the likes of Hansi Flick, Antonio Conte, Julian Naglesmann, and others.
🚨 Antonio Conte is a surprise candidate to succeed Xavi at Barcelona! 🇮🇹
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) February 8, 2024
His profile is now of interest to the club. đź‘€
(Source: @Sport) pic.twitter.com/8oOFfFsXgW
🚨 Joan Laporta favours Hansi Flick, but his close advisors value Julian Nagelsmann’s calibre to coach the current Barcelona squad which is filled with exciting youngsters.
— Ronit (@FCBRonit) February 8, 2024
Nagelsmann, who’s an admirer of Barça, is content with Germany, at the moment. pic.twitter.com/Gj5enSBNvp
❗️Hansi Flick would love to coach Barcelona.
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) February 7, 2024
— @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/2DkYPEfIRv
Although all these reports are still yet to be confirmed by reliable journalists, they give a brilliant view of the candidates for the future Barcelona managerial role and fans could certainly expect the future manager to be a big name as well.
Do you think Barcelone could find their future manager who can bring them back to their glory days? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.