Barcelona reach agreement in principle with Xavi Hernandez replacement | OneFootball

Barcelona have been deliberating over the future of Xavi Hernandez over the last week, and it appears they have taken a firm decision. After a meeting between Sporting Director Deco and Hansi Flick, Barcelona have reportedly reached an agreement with the former Bayern Munich manager.

The Blaugrana are yet to inform Xavi of their decision to move on from him, and must still negotiate his exit package, which is due to set them back between €15m and €20m, should they not reach a mutual agreement. Xavi’s camp have intimated that they would be willing to find a deal for his exit, but how much they are willing to waive remains to be seen.

They have found common ground with Flick’s agent Pini Zahavi though, with a two-year deal for the German manager on the table. El Chiringuito first reported the news, and Diario AS have confirmed as much. Flick has been learning Spanish since Xavi’s job security came into question in January, rejecting any other approaches, and has always been one of the candidates with President Joan Laporta. He also hired Zahavi in February in order get him the job, and it looks like the Israeli agent will come good for him.

It remains to be seen what will happen with the other leading candidate Rafael Marquez, who is coming to the end of a two-year stint at Barca Atletic without a new deal on the table. He was believed to be Deco’s preferred candidate, but it has been suggested that he could leave this summer.

If the deal is consummated, then Barcelona will be appointing the artifice of their most humiliating European defeat in their history. Flick’s treble at Bayern was one of the greatest season’s in their history, but since there has been some backlash against his man-management in Germany, following a disappointing spell in the national team.