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Revealed: The top candidates on Barcelona's head coach shortlist - but Camp Nou giants still hopeful of Xavi stay

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  • Barca not convinced Xavi will leave
  • Drawing up shortlist of potential replacements
  • Xavi announced intention to depart this summer
  • Joao Felix Fermin Lopez Barcelona Atletico Madrid LaLiga 2023-24Angel Martinez/Getty Images

    WHAT HAPPENED?

    Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona are currently drawing up a shortlist of potential replacements for Xavi after he announced his intention to leave the club in the summer. Xavi still has a contract until the summer of 2025 and Barcelona remain hopeful of keeping their legendary ex-midfielder at the club, although the report claims that the club would need to either win La Liga or the Champions League to convince him to stay.

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  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Barcelona are reported to have shortlisted PSG boss Luis Enrique - who managed the club between 2014 and 2017 before managing Spain - as well as Hansi Flick, who is represented by super-agent Pini Zahavi, with whom Barca have a close relationship, and Rafael Marquez. Marquez is currently the manager of Barcelona Athletic and he is seen as an in-house option, similar to the appointment of Pep Guardiola when he was promoted from managing the youth team.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    It remains to be seen if Xavi will be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat and win a major trophy; were he to do so, he could potentially change his mind. The legendary figure guided the club to La Liga success last season, but they have endured a difficult campaign this time around. They sit eight points behind Real Madrid in the league and are paired with Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. When Luis Enrique was in charge, he guided Barcelona to two La Liga titles, Copa del Rey success three times, as well as Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup crowns.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    Barcelona are next in action against Las Palmas in La Liga on Saturday before taking on PSG in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. The latter could be vital in deciding the future of manager Xavi.