It has been learned that Lionel Messi had well in advance already endorsed Barcelona\u2019s push to make Xavi their new manager following the departure of Ronald Koeman, according to reports.<\/p>\n
Koeman was given his marching papers by Joan Laporta on Wednesday evening apparently in mid-flight enroute back to Barcelona following the team\u2019s 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\u00a0and Benfica.<\/p>\n
The scandalous 1-0 defeat away to minnows Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday evening sealed Koeman\u2019s fate and Barca are now looking ahead to building anew with their former skipper and legendary midfielder and newly-appointed manager Xavi Hernandes.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In an interview with 20 Minutos last week, Xavi made no secret of his desire to manage Barcelona.<\/p>\n
\u2018My ideal is to coach Barca, that is my goal and my dream and I have never hidden it,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
According to RAC1, Xavi had always been Barcelona\u2019s first-choice option, with various other former Barcelona legends like Rivaldo also having issued his support for the return of Xavi.<\/p>\n
\u2018After the departure of Koeman, I would very much like Xavi to have this opportunity to be the new coach of Barcelona,\u2019 the Brazilian posted on Instagram.<\/p>\n
\u2018I have a lot of confidence in him to get the Club out of this situation.\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"