Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu admits Xavi will manage the club ‘sooner or later’

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu believes Xavi will manage the club ‘sooner or later’ with the pressure continuing to mount on current boss Quique Setien.

The Catalan club’s iconic midfielder has been linked with a return to the Nou Camp having managed Qatari side Al-Sadd since 2019.

Barcelona have struggled to impress during Setien’s short reign and have fallen behind rivals Real Madrid in the race for the league title.

Barcelona chief Josep Maria Bartomeu (L) admits Xavi (R) will manage the club ‘sooner or later’

The situation, which has been coupled with lacklustre displays on the field and controversial moments off of it, have led to reports linking Xavi with a return to his boyhood club.

However, while Xavi is one of the men to lead the race to replace Setien, Bartomeu insists that they are backing their current manager to succeed this season. 

‘Xavi will be Barca’s coach, sooner or later. But right now we are not looking for a coach, we are with Quique,’ he told TV3.

‘Quique Setien will coach the team in the Champions League and these last two Liga games that are left.

Barcelona’s current manager Quique Setien has struggled to impress during his reign as boss

Xavi has been learning the ropes at Qatari side Al-Sadd and has been linked with a return

‘We have had a very atypical season, we will play in August and he will be the coach. If we overcome Napoli, we will be in Lisbon.

‘Our will is to fulfil contracts and Setien has one. We went to Setien’s house to speak about the future, the plans for next season. He will probably be there and I am very interested to hear what he thinks.

‘He has a lot of time for Riqui Puig and Ansu [Fati]. We have seen Pedri and [Francisco] Trincao in form, there is hope.’

Barcelona saw off Real Valladolid at the weekend but will need Real to slip up in their remaining three games if they are to win a third straight LaLiga title.