Man United receive Xavi stance on replacing Erik ten Hag after 'contact' and Omar Berrada trip
Barcelona legend Xavi has been linked with the Manchester United job and a stance has been made clear amid talk of Erik ten Hag potentially being sacked at Old Trafford.
Manchester United's pursuit of Xavi Hernandez has reached a conclusion as the club considers replacing Erik ten Hag, who is under increasing pressure.
The Dutch manager's future at Old Trafford is uncertain following discussions about his position 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.
It's believed that United CEO Omar Berrada travelled to Spain for two rounds of talks with the former Spanish international. Besides the United job, Xavi declined 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 does not plan to cut it short, even if it means rejecting a Premier League management opportunity. For now, Ten Hag remains in charge, but it seems plans are being made behind the scenes to find his replacement.
Before the start of the season, Ratcliffe had discussions with Thomas Tuchel about succeeding Ten Hag, who has held the post since July 2022. The German rejected the opportunity and is set to begin a new role as England boss from January 2025.
Ten Hag recently experienced a moment of relief after guiding the club through its worst start to a Premier League season, which left him battling to secure his position. Recent matches, including draws with Aston Villa and FC Porto, as well as a 2-1 victory at home over Brentford— particularly commendable as United came from behind—have provided Ten Hag with some breathing space.
Despite these efforts, United is currently sitting in the 12th spot in the Premier League table, even after an investment exceeding £200million during the summer transfer window. This sizeable expenditure brought in players such as Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, and Joshua Zirkzee, though reaction to Ten Hag's choices has been varied.
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Ironically, Xavi is one of Ten Hag's most outspoken supporters, having praised the former Ajax manager publicly and described him as a 'great coach' when their teams clashed 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."