The former Barcelona star midfielder has serious doubts about joining the team in the middle of the season.
Xavi Hernandez has declined the offer to become the next Barcelona manager and replace Ernesto Valverde.
Despite intense negotiations between himself and the club contingent consisting of Eric Abidal and Oscar Grau, the former club legend prefers to wait it out until the end of the season.
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According to Mundo Deportivo, Xavi wants to fulfill his commitment with his current club, Al-Saad, and believes that right now is not the appropriate time for him to come back to the club.
However, the intention of both he and the club is for him to become the new manager at the end of the season.
Diario Sport report that Xavi was leaning toward accepting the position but has doubts about joining now given the state of the team.
All signs point that Ernesto Valverde will remain as manager unless he chooses to resign.
One can only assume that reading speculation about his future and the club openly negotiating with Xavi did not sit well with him.
In any case, Xavi is doing the right thing choosing to wait until next season to take over given the toxicity surrounding the team.
They are in the middle of a poor run with an aging side and a board who may be trying to use him to sway public sentiment. Elections are coming up and even though Josep Maria Bartomeu will not run, he’s already brought in someone who could be his successor into the fold.
Joining in the summer would mean Xavi could come in with a clean slate and mold the club to his image and style. If he were to be thrust in now and fail, some of the same people clamoring for his arrival would immediately sway in the other direction and want him gone.
He is taking a risk by refusing to join now, however. Valverde is likely gone at the end of the season either by his choice or the club’s. Who’s to say Barcelona won’t find a better option between now and that time to take over?
Mauricio Pochettino’s name has been mentioned and if they are looking for a younger coach, Ajax’s Ten Haag and River Plate’s Marcelo Gallardo are available and both have more experience and success than Xavi.
A lot can happen between now and June. The only thing certain now is that Xavi won’t be becoming the new Barcelona manager until next season. He’s taking a gamble but it’s the right one for the sake of his career.