Jose Mourinho: Nigeria Coach Peseiro Backs Friend to Replace Xavi at Helm of Barcelona

• Jose Peseiro would love to see Jose Mourinho as Barcelona's manager
• Xavi will leave his role with the Catalan giants at the end of the season
• Mourinho is currently jobless after his sacking by AS Roma last month

Xavi Hernandez will leave his role as coach of Barcelona at the end of the season, and there are already rumours of his possible replacements.

Nigeria coach, Jose Peseiro, has backed his close friend, Jose Mourinho, to take over at Camp Nou.

Xavi announced his decision to quit Barcelona last month, after their painful 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal. His contract was due to expire in 2025, per the Athletic.

Meanwhile, Mourinho was fired as AS Roma boss in mid-January after a poor run of results. He left the club after two-and-half years. The Portuguese led them to the Europa Conference League title in 2022, per Sky Sports.

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Peseiro led Nigeria to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final, where they lost to Ivory Coast. Speaking to Spanish publication Sport, he backed Mourinho to succeed Xavi.

"What is the problem? In the end, it is training. I'm sure he would do well because of the demands he places on everything and everyone around him day after day, every minute, to build a team to win. I would like Mourinho to go to coach Barça - he has to be in a team to win everything, because he is a winner."

Peseiro also spoke about his friendship with Mourinho.

"I'm Portuguese, a good friend of Mourinho... I like Mou. We were together at university, we met many times to talk about football. He gave me tickets when I was at Barcelona. When [Carlos] Queiroz called me to go to Madrid, the first one I called was Mourinho, not my wife."

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Mourinho was a coach at Barcelona early in his career, but went on to coach their bitter rivals - Real Madrid - later in his successful career.

Possible replacements for Xavi

Sports Brief has also reported on possible replacements for Xavi at Barcelona after his decision to leave the La Liga giants at the end of the season.

Former Barcelona player and coach, Luis Enrique, has been tipped to take over. The former Spain coach currently coaches Paris Saint-Germain.

Real Sociedad's Imanol Alguacil, departing Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, and Thiago Motta have also been listed among possible replacements.

Xavi to quit Barcelona at season's end

Sports Brief also previously reported that Xavi will be departing Barcelona at the end of the current season.

The Spanish midfielder made the decision to step down after his side were beaten 5-3 by Villareal in La Liga.

Xavi led Barcelona to the La Liga title in his first season in charge, but found this season much more difficult.