Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said he has a ‘great relationship’ with Xavi and confirmed the Camp Nou legend is a ‘possibility’ to replace Ronald Koeman, who was sacked this week.
Pep Guardiola has also backed Xavi to succeed if the club secures his return.
Koeman didn’t even make it back to Barcelona following the midweek defeat against Rayo Vallecano, with reports that he was informed of his dismissal on the plane in mid-air.
Ex-Barça left-back Sergi Barjuan has been appointed on an interim basis, although there is a belief that a deal with Xavi is all but agreed and all that is left to negotiated is the size of any compensation package with the Spaniard’s existing club, Al-Sadd.
“My opinion about Xavi as a manager is he is in a process learning, evolving, I have really good references from close people who know him better than me in that way,” Laporta said as he faced the media on Friday.
