Manchester United stance on Xavi on replacing Erik ten Hag revealed
Former Barcelona manager Xavi has been linked with the Man United job
Manchester United’s interest in Xavi Hernandez appears to be waning as the club evaluates the future of Erik ten Hag, who is facing mounting pressure in his role.
Ten Hag’s position at Old Trafford has become increasingly precarious following discussions during the international break with Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe and other senior officials.
Xavi, who managed Barcelona for three years before stepping down at the end of the 2023-24 season, has been identified as a potential successor to Ten Hag.
Reports indicate that United CEO Omar Berrada traveled to Spain for two rounds of talks with the former Spanish international.
Despite interest from United, Xavi turned down an offer from AC Milan last summer and was also approached to manage the South Korean national team for the 2026 World Cup.
However, according to Spanish newspaper AS, the 44-year-old is currently on a football sabbatical and has no immediate plans to return to management, even for a Premier League opportunity.
For now, Ten Hag remains at the helm, but it seems plans are being formulated behind the scenes for a potential transition.
Before the season commenced, Ratcliffe had discussions with Thomas Tuchel about taking over from Ten Hag, who has been in charge since July 2022.
However, Tuchel declined the opportunity and is set to begin a new role as England’s manager in January 2025.
Recently, Ten Hag found a moment of respite after steering the club through its worst start to a Premier League season, a situation that had left him fighting for his job.
Recent performances, including draws against Aston Villa and FC Porto, along with a commendable 2-1 victory at home against Brentford – where United came from behind – have provided Ten Hag with some breathing space.
Despite these efforts, United currently sits in 12th place in the Premier League table, even after investing over £200 million during the summer transfer window.
This significant expenditure brought in players such as Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, and Joshua Zirkzee, although reactions to Ten Hag’s recruitment strategy have been mixed.
Ironically, Xavi has been one of Ten Hag’s most vocal supporters, having praised the former Ajax manager publicly and calling him a “great coach” following their teams’ clash in European competition about a year and a half ago.
“Ten Hag has changed the face of the team,” said Xavi during their Europa League encounter in 2023.
“It’s been hard for them but they’re doing a great job.
“He is a great coach. Reversing the situation at United was not easy.
“He makes variations in attack and defence, [and] they work very well.
“He is an attacking coach and he shows it in almost every game.
“He is a reference for coaches who like this kind of football.”
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