Despite Spanish side Barcelona opting to go for different other managers in their recent coach appointments, rumors keep making the rounds that the club will later in the future hire its former player Xavi to become its coach.
21
Dec 20
SAVIOLA SAYS XAVI WILL BECOME BARCELONA COACH IN FUTURE
11
Dec 20
CARZOLA BELIEVES XAVI WILL BECOME BARCELONA MANAGER ONE DAY
Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Carzola believes Xavi will return to Barcelona one day as a coach when the time is right. Carzola who now plays under Xavi at Al Sadd was once teammates with the former Barcelona man for the Spain national team and thinks a Camp Nou return is on the cards for Xavi.
That time has not come yet though, as Xavi is still holding a coaching role at Al Sad, and Ronald Koeman recently taking up the Barcelona job after the Spanish giants sacked former manager Setien.
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26
Sep 20
Barcelona in Favor of Xavi as Coach
Barcelona has a new chief in Ronald Koeman who has also been looking forward to this being his dream job. However, the task does involve having to oust some older team members who are in their thirties but legends themselves. With these tasks in front of him, his tenure might be a short one and last till last year since the club’s top management is currently eyeing Xavi and wish to pick him up for the assignment next year.
Xavi is currently handling Al Sadd of Qatar but Barcelona wants him as the manager for the tenure of 2021 to 2022. It is likely that Victor Front might unseat the current president of the club, Josep Maria Bartomeu in March elections. The font would want Xavi who is considered one of the Barca legends if he is able to win in the presidential vote. The font feels that Xavi has a greater understanding of the club and how it stays together. Since the board of directors would be deciding on the next manager for the club, the vote would go for Xavi.
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18
Jun 20
DAVID SILVA TO JOIN XAVI IN QATAR
Manchester City playmaker David Silva is set to join former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez in Qatar, as per reports. Silva is expected to exit City this summer after a decade of meritorious service. The 34-year old once spoke of returning to the La Liga to play for Valencia but not much has been reported about that. He went through the club academy, playing for Valencia B in 2003 before joining the first team a year later.
Silva went on loan spells to Eibar and Celta de Vigo before stabilizing in 2005. For five years he was one of the best central and attacking midfielders in Spain. City convinced him to move to England in 2010 for 30 million euros. His talent speaks for him hence the buzz even though he is 34 and injury prone.
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12
Apr 20
CHELSEA ENTER RACE FOR AUBAMEYANG
Chelsea have entered the race to sign Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. In a twist of plot the Blues have emerged as a serious contender for the signature of the Gabon international, amid uncertainties over the players long-term commitment at London rivals Arsenal.
Players moving for free among London clubs has happened on a number of occasions. Sol Campbell left Spurs to join Arsenal on a free in 2002. Ashley Cole also left the Gunners to join the Blues while William Gallas moved the opposite direction. Petr Cech and David Luiz have also swapped clubs within London recently.
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Dec 19
Xavi takes Award on Behalf of Afif Akram
Xavi Hernández, the former Spain and Barcelona legend and Gianni Infantino, the present president of FIFA are going to be in town for bringing the Asian football into the limelight in 2019 AFC Annual Awards that was held on Monday, 2nd December.
Saki Kumagai, the legendary woman of Japanese football and Akram Hassan, the Qatari star of men’s football deservedly took up the marquee awards of the player of the year as Hong Kong Football Association bagged the award in the category of AFC developing member association at Convention and Exhibition Center in Hong Kong, Wan Chai.
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Dec 19
VALVERDE NEEDS TO FIND THE RIGHT MIDFIELD COMBINATION
Barcelona have struggled this season with manager Ernesto Valverde having to change his options in the team as they look forward to challenging for trophies. New signings, Antoine Griezmann, and Frenkie De Jong have endured mixed starts to the season.
There have been several blames towards the manager that he has lost the culture that made Barcelona the best team in Europe in the past decade. However, Valverde has had to work with the most unbalanced Barcelona squad in recent years.
The midfield, in particular, has been the major problem for Valverde. Pep Guardiola was able to bank on prime, Iniesta, Xavi and Busquet. The trio controlled games letting Lionel Messi focus solely on scoring goals.
Xavi was the creative passer, Iniesta the creative dribbler and Busquet the creative ball retention player. This was peak Barcelona that would pass teams to death with their ball movements and creativity. Cesc Fabregas and Thiago could also come from the bench and recreate a similar style like Xavi and Iniesta.
Luis Enrique met a fading Xavi and quickly got Rakitic to partner Iniesta and Busquet but crucially had Neymar in the attack.
This meant that there was less emphasis on retaining possession with the team looking to pick the front three of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar in dangerous positions.
Under Valverde, the team has become more reliant on Messi as Suarez has faded and Neymar is no more at the club. This means that the midfield has to come up with more creativity and goals to support the attack. This becomes more obvious when is not on the pitch which is partially why Valverde intends to use wide forwards to stretch the pitch.
The faster he gets a working midfield triumvirate the better for Barcelona and Frenkie de Jong, Arthur, and Busquet may be the solution.