Soccer Rumors: After Xavi Snub, Barcelona Targeting This Manager As Valverde's Replacement

After Xavi Hernadez refused to take up FC Barcelona’s managerial role, the Spanish club reportedly is targeting Mauricio Pochettino to replace their current boss Ernesto Valverde.

Even though Barca are on the top of the La Liga table and are still alive in the Champions League, their boss Valverde is under tremendous pressure. His miseries escalated following Barca’s recent semi-final loss to Atletico Madrid in the Super Copa.

The first choice of the Catalan club was their former player Xavi, who has turned down the offer as he wants to continue to manage Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League. After Xavi, Barca contacted Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, who also rejected the offer.

After rumors broke that Xavi has refused to return to Barca, Spanish radio station RAC1 has reported that Barca are now looking toward Mauricio Pochettino for the role.

The Argentine has coached in Barcelona before. He spent three years with Espanyol, having managed him for 275 matches across two spells. Pochettino who had a brilliant spell in charge of Tottenham was sacked by the Premier League side November.

Speaking about Valverde’s current situation, Andres Iniesta has shown support for his former manager.

“What comes to my mind a little, if all this is so, is that the way everything is being done is a bit ugly. I think that there should always be respect for the coach. The boss’s situation and position has been left very weakened. My relationship with the boss is very good.

During the year we have been talking sometimes. Really, beyond whether we like the coach or not, I think the situation is not pleasant for anyone: the coach, the team or the fans,” Iniesta, who played under Valverde for a year in Barca, told Onda Cero.