FC Barcelona has put its quest to find a new head coach on hold with the “Xavi option” still alive according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
Xavi announced that he will step down from his role in late January, at the start of a press conference that followed a devastating 5-3 La Liga defeat to Villarreal in the Montjuic Stadium.
A changing of the guard should happen on June 30, with rumored candidates for one of the biggest, yet most demanding, jobs in football management including Hansi Flick, Thomas Tuchel and a probably out of reach Robert De Zerbi thanks to his unaffordable release clause at Brighton.
SPORT previously reported that sporting director Deco had set a deadline until the end of the currently-starting international break to appoint a successor, and would meet with one of the potential names while Barca was out of action.
A lot can change in a week, however. Since then, Barca has qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2020.
And though it will meet an outfit who Xavi described as “one of the worst teams” it could be drawn against in Paris Saint-Germain, there is an increased sense of optimism around the club.
Vice president Rafa Yuste, who also indicated that he wants Xavi to stay on after Barca knocked out Napoli in the last 16, is confident that the Catalans can get the job done at the expense of the Ligue 1 giants.
Furthermore, the club can take courage from possibly reaching the final in the wake of a 3-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano on Sunday after which a red-carded Xavi hailed a “brilliant” Barca.
Providing the Rojiblancos get past Borussia Dortmund, they will meet the winners of Barca-PSG with a $55 million payday on the line for the Spanish side that advances furthest on the continent because of the guarantee of participation in the FIFA Club World Cup next year.
In a change of approach, Barca now takes the stance that nothing will be decided until the outcome of the Champions League as per the new manager, according to SPORT.
And above all, the “Xavi option”, i.e. the legendary former midfielder going back on his original decision and continuing in the dugout, of which there are increased signs of potentially occurring, “is still alive” like the club of his life in Europe’s elite competition.