Lionel Messi: English Pundit Picks Inter Miami Star to Replace Xavi at Barcelona

• Xavi Hernandez will step down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season
• He announced this after La Blaugrana were eliminated from the Copa del Rey
• English pundit, Danny Murphy has an interesting pick for Barca's next manager

Barcelona will have a new manager next season when Xavi Hernandez vacates his position, as already decided, and an English pundit has an exciting choice to succeed him.

Xavi guided Barca to a La Liga and Super Cup double in his first full season in charge of the club where he spent the majority of his career, but the team is fast regressing in his second year.

They are 10 points behind Girona and Real Madrid in the title race. They lost 4-1 to their rivals in the Super Cup final and were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao, coached by former boss, Ernesto Valverde.

Barcelona star refuses to return to the club until Xavi is gone

Football

The Catalan giants will go trophyless unless they pull off a miracle to reclaim the top spot in the title race and win the UEFA Champions League, which they have not won since 2015.

English pundit picks Barcelona’s next manager

Since Xavi announced to leave, several names have been suggested in the media, including Jurgen Klopp, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

English pundit, Danny Murphy has steered away from the popular choices and made a somewhat unpopular pick of the next manager of Barcelona.

"I’d give it to Messi; the fans are on board straight away. Everything he touches turns to gold. He was put on this earth to do amazing things. It’s not going to stop in management," he said on talkSPORT.

Per 90min, however, Messi previously stated he would not become a coach once he retired. Instead, he wants to be a director and hopes to return to Barcelona someday.

Luis Suarez reacts after playing first game for Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami

Football

Barcelona linked with former boss

Sports Brief has also reported on Frank Rjikaard being linked with Barcelona to replace Xavi when he steps down at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The news shocked fans, who didn't think a man whose last managerial role was in 2013 was fit to take on the demands of their club in 2024.