FC Barcelona are reportedly interested in bringing back former manager Luis Enrique, who is currently coaching French powerhouse Paris Saint-German, reported Spanish outlet Cadena SER.
The current Spanish champions are preparing to bid farewell to Xavi, who announced in late January that he would be stepping down at the end of the season.
Xavi revealed his decision after Barcelona's 5-3 defeat to Villarreal, and since then, the team has gone undefeated in their last seven matches across all competitions.
Although Barcelona may not be in contention for the La Liga title, sitting eight points behind leaders Real Madrid in third place, they still have hopes of Champions League success. They are set to face Napoli in the second leg of their last-16 tie on March 12 after securing a 1-1 draw in Italy.
Despite speculation about Xavi potentially seeing out his contract, which runs until the end of next season, he remains steadfast in his decision to leave this summer. The club is reportedly already searching for his replacement.
According to Cadena SER, Enrique is the top choice to succeed Xavi at Barcelona. Enrique previously managed the club from 2014 to 2017, leading them to nine trophies, including a memorable treble in the 2014-15 season.
Following his successful tenure at Barcelona, Enrique took charge of the Spain national team, guiding them to the Euro 2020 semi-finals and the 2020-21 Nations League final. However, recent controversies, including early substitutions of Kylian Mbappe at PSG, have raised doubts about his future.
While Xabi Alonso, Thomas Tuchel, and Hansi Flick are also under consideration, Barcelona may face challenges in acquiring Roberto De Zerbi from Brighton & Hove Albion due to his high buyout clause.