Published 13:20 IST, August 20th 2020
Barcelona presidential candidate plans to sack Ronald Koeman in 2021 and appoint Xavi
Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font plans to sack Ronald Koeman in 2021 and replace the Dutchman with Xavi Hernandez, if he is elected next year.
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Even though it's been only less than 24 hours since Ronald Koeman was appointed as Barcelona head coach, there is already talk of the Dutchman being given the boot in 2021. Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has claimed that he plans to sack Ronald Koeman regardless of his performances and replace the 57-year-old with club legend Xavi Hernandez, if he is elected next year. Earlier this week, it was revealed that the next presidential elections for Barcelona will take place in March 2021, after they were brought forward due to the drastic changes required at the club.
Victor Font: "Koeman will lose his job if I win the election."
— total Barça (@totalBarca) August 19, 2020
He also said he had no interest in signing Neymar. pic.twitter.com/rf0s2wZrbt
Barcelona presidential candidate to sack Ronald Koeman next year?
On Tuesday night, Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font spoke to Spanish radio programme El Larguero and made a shocking claim about the newly-appointed Blaugrana manager. He said, "Even if Ronald Koeman has a great first season at Camp Nou, I will not change my plans. If I become president, Koeman won't be Barcelona coach for the 2021-2022 season.". Font then added that Barcelona legend and current Al-Sadd boss, Xavi Hernandez, would be his first choice to replace Koeman.
Koeman and Barça's paths cross again. He was one of the key members of the Dream Team, he knows the Club, our football and our uniqueness. New successes for @RonaldKoeman will be successes for all Barça fans pic.twitter.com/jJ1jcM7EU4
— Josep Maria Bartomeu (@jmbartomeu) August 19, 2020
Font also went on to explain that Lionel Messi has been disappointed because of the critical situation at the club in both, organisational and sports terms, but Xavi would be able to put together the puzzles at the club as he understands the Barcelona style of management and play. "Xavi understands how the club needs to run in order to function well and I expect Messi to play under Xavi in 2021," he said. Xavi rejected the offer to coach Barcelona in January, citing institutional problems as a reason to bide his time and remain in his current role with Al-Sadd.
On Wednesday, Ronald Koeman signed a two-year contract with Barcelona that is expected to keep him at the Camp Nou until 2022. His appointment was announced only two days after Quique Setien was sacked. The LaLiga heavyweights suffered a humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League which saw them go trophyless for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign.
Image Credits - Xavi Instagram / Barcelona Twitter
13:20 IST, August 20th 2020