Ronald Koeman is out, and it’s looking almost certain that Xavi will be in as FC Barcelona’s new manager. Koeman’s men improved on a torrid first half of the season with a great second half, but over the summer, things fell apart. Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann left, and while the Catalans made some smart free transfers, the talent level dropped. Still, Koeman could not keep up even with reduced expectations, and the team went through terrible results.
Xavi was the one the club really wanted, not Koeman. It was Xavi who turned down Josep Maria Bartomeu’s offer to takeover for Ernesto Valverde, allowing Quique Setién to be appointed.