Xavi wants Barcelona to renew with 24-year-old to create winger duo with Ansu | OneFootball

Icon: Barca Universal

Barca Universal

·20 October 2021

Xavi wants Barcelona to renew with 24-year-old to create winger duo with Ansu

Article image:Xavi wants Barcelona to renew with 24-year-old to create winger duo with Ansu

While Joan Laporta has given his public backing to Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman, speculations surrounding his future refuse to go away. It almost seems like the Dutch tactician is just another bad result away from getting the sack at Camp Nou.

If that is to happen, former midfielder Xavi seems to be the leading candidate to take over the reins at the Catalan outfit. The club legend has done a fine job as manager at Qatari outfit Al Sadd, but the Barca job will be a major step-up, considering his lack of experience.


OneFootball Videos


However, Xavi is someone that knows Barcelona in and out and would bring with him the Cruyffismo philosophy that has gone missing under Koeman. With his relationship with Laporta also on the mend, things point strongly towards him taking over from the Dutchman when he vacates the post.

Reports have already been doing the rounds with regards to the signings that Xavi has requested Barca once he takes over. Now, Planeta Barca is claiming that apart from the new signings, the 41-year-old has asked the club to extend the contract of winger Ousmane Dembele on a priority basis.

The update, further corroborated by Gerard Romero, claims that Xavi wants to create a wing-partnership between Ansu Fati and Dembele, and wants the 24-year-old tied down to a new contract with the Catalans.

Dembele has been with Barca since 2017, when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund as a replacement for Neymar. His time at Camp Nou has been bogged down by injuries and inconsistencies. While he did show signs of resurgence last term, the Frenchman was struck down with another injury at the Euros this summer and is yet to feature in the 2021/22 campaign.

Talks over a new deal have been ongoing for a while with Dembele’s agent, Moussa Sissoko, but an agreement is yet to be arrived at. The 24-year-old’s situation has led to interest from the Premier League, but there is a belief that a contract will be finalised.

With Xavi also seemingly stressing for his extension, Barcelona could ramp up their efforts to secure Dembele’s future with a new contract as soon as possible.

View publisher imprint