It has been learned that Lionel Messi had well in advance already endorsed Barcelona’s push to make Xavi their new manager following the departure of Ronald Koeman, according to reports.
Koeman was given his marching papers by Joan Laporta on Wednesday evening apparently in mid-flight enroute back to Barcelona following the team’s poor start to the season. Barca have recorded only four measly wins from 10 games in La Liga this term, while in the Champions League group stage they have been beaten by Bayern Munich and Benfica.
The scandalous 1-0 defeat away to minnows Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday evening sealed Koeman’s fate and Barca are now looking ahead to building anew with their former skipper and legendary midfielder and newly-appointed manager Xavi Hernandes.
The report also claims that Messi, who played alongside Xavi for 11 seasons at Camp Nou, had also been very keen for his former teammate to replace Koeman before he ended up leaving Barca in August for Parisian giants Paris Saint-Germain.
In an interview with 20 Minutos last week, Xavi made no secret of his desire to manage Barcelona.
‘My ideal is to coach Barca, that is my goal and my dream and I have never hidden it,’ he said.
According to RAC1, Xavi had always been Barcelona’s first-choice option, with various other former Barcelona legends like Rivaldo also having issued his support for the return of Xavi.
‘After the departure of Koeman, I would very much like Xavi to have this opportunity to be the new coach of Barcelona,’ the Brazilian posted on Instagram.
‘I have a lot of confidence in him to get the Club out of this situation.’