Ralf Rangnick eyed to replace Xavi at Barcelona

His short stint at Old Trafford may have been a flop, but Barcelona are reportedly ready to give Ralf Rangnick a chance if Xavi Hernandez departs.

Reports suggest that Ralf Rangnick, currently at the helm of the Austria national team, could make a surprising return to club management as Barcelona is said to be eyeing his appointment.

The 65-year-old, who faced a challenging six-month tenure as interim manager at Manchester United, is being considered by Barcelona as a potential replacement for departing manager Xavi.

During his brief stint at Manchester United, Rangnick encountered difficulties, securing only 11 wins out of 31 matches and facing clashes with several players, including Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, his wealth of experience and respected status in Germany, garnered from successful spells at clubs like Stuttgart, Schalke 04, and RB Leipzig, has kept his stock high.

Despite being under contract with Austria until 2026, Rangnick has drawn attention from the Catalan side, where president Joan Laporta reportedly holds a strong interest in him. However, other contenders mentioned in the mix include Jurgen Klopp, Hansi Flick, and Julian Nagelsmann.

The potential vacancy at Barcelona arises following Xavi’s announcement of his departure last month. Despite overseeing 78 wins out of 125 games during his tumultuous reign, which notably included securing a La Liga title last season, Xavi cited a need for change.

The move stands a surprise however, if at all the reports turn out to be genuine.