Football

Victor Font warns Xavi that Barcelona "cannot have another Pep Guardiola case"


Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has told Xavi the club “cannot afford to have another case like Pep Guardiola” in his rebuild strategy.

Font is campaigning to replace Josep Maria Bartomeu as Barca’s new president in January’s election.

Part of his plan is to install club legend Xavi as manager instead of current boss Ronald Koeman.

But Font has warned the Al Sadd boss that Barcelona are in desperate need of stability, and that starts from the man in the hot seat.

“We decided some years ago the best person to help us build our organisation is Xavi,” Font told Reuters.



Pep Guardiola landed 14 trophies as Barca boss before his shock departure
Pep Guardiola landed 14 trophies as Barca boss before his shock departure

“Ideally we can have Xavi as a general manager for many years like Alex Ferguson was at Manchester United. But if he needs to play a different role, he can be flexible. Few people have the leadership qualities he has.”

Ferguson was in charge at United over a 27-year period which brought untold success to Old Trafford.

Barcelona’s most successful manager in comparison was Guardiola, who collected 14 trophies during his four-year stint before his shock resignation.

Guardiola has often been linked with a return to the Nou Camp until recently, when he ruled out ever taking on another role at Barcelona.

Would Xavi be a good choice as Barcelona’s next manager? Have your say below.



Xavi has been honing his managerial skills in Qatar
Xavi has been honing his managerial skills in Qatar

The landscape at the club is now world’s apart from when Guardiola left in 2012, but Font insists Barcelona do not need their old coach, but one who is committed to the long-term project.

“I have told Xavi we cannot afford to have another case like Pep Guardiola,” Font added.

“Pep coached the first team very successfully for a few years then he moved on and went to the competition [Bayern Munich and Man City]. We need to have Xavi in the club for the next 10 years.”





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