EXCLUSIVE: Barcelona approach Roberto Martinez over replacing Xavi

Steve Kay

Updated: 2 Mar 2024 12:53 GMT
3 min read

Roberto Martinez, Portugal, 2023 — © IMAGO

Barcelona have contacted Roberto Martinez over the prospect of replacing Xavi as head coach at the Camp Nou club for the 2024/25 season, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.

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Xavi has announced that he will stand down from the role at the end of the current campaign, with the legendary midfielder having been in post for the last three years.

There is no clear favourite to replace the 44-year-old, with names like Hansi Flick, Rafa Marquez and Roberto De Zerbi linked with the post. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was also briefly linked, but these rumours were quickly dismissed.

FootballTransfers can confirm that Barcelona have approached Martinez over the possibility of becoming the next head coach at Camp Nou.

The initial proposal is a one-year deal with the option for one more, with the Blaugrana offering Martinez the opportunity to do the role alongside his current job as Portugal's head coach.

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The 50-year-old has been in his present role since January 2023, having previously led Belgium to the top spot on the FIFA Ranking during his six-year stint in that job. He departed after the 2022 World Cup after his side were eliminated in the group stage.

The Catalan previously experienced success at club level with Swansea, Wigan Athletic and Everton and even won the 2012/13 FA Cup with the Latics.

© IMAGO - Barcelona head coach Xavi will stand down at the end of the season

Martinez held in high regard at Barcelona

Martinez was approached by Barcelona previously and came close to taking the post in autumn 2021 prior to Xavi being given the job following the sacking of Ronald Koeman.

President Joan Laporta has a long-standing admiration for Martinez, who has close ties to Barcelona via the Cruyff family. He is godfather to one of the sons of Jordi Cruyff, son of Barca legend Johan, who held Martinez in the highest esteem both as a coach and as a person.

Martinez was previously eager to take the role at this time and it is FootballTransfers’ understanding that he was extremely close to getting the job before a late complication thwarted his dream.

Having only taken the Portugal head coach job in January 2023, it is unclear how Martinez has reacted to the approach from Barcelona at this time.

Additional reporting by Robin Bairner