Xavi rumored to be sacked by Barcelona, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta emerges as potential replacement

Right now, Barcelona are in a tough spot, especially after losing the Spanish Super Cup trophy to rivals Real Madrid. The humiliating loss against their rivals in the final of a major tournament has caused many fans and supporters to lose faith in their manager, along with the fact that the team is performing badly in the league as well.

All of these have raised serious questions about the continuity of the Spaniard in the Catalan managerial seat, while there are also many who think he should be given more time. The Blaugrana are now also considering who to replace Xavi if he is to be sacked.

Xavi’s Barcelona future hangs in balance

Xavi was considered a blessing when he was appointed in the 2021 campaign, when he helped the club reach the Champions League spots during a tough period. He continued on that success last season by winning both the La Liga and Spanish Super Cup trophies. However, this season has not seen the same success, with Barcelona hugely struggling.

The team have performed very poorly this season, and many fans believe that they are not improving considering the stacked talent they have in the squad. The Catalans are only 4th in La Liga after poor performances in many games. They also barely managed to get out of their UCL group as the top team, and the loss to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final is considered to be the final nail in the coffin for many fans.

Many concerning reports also suggest that the players themselves are losing faith in their manager. A section of the dressing room is said to be losing trust in the tactics and approach of the manager, though it is not confirmed. While the club has publicly backed Xavi, it seems that he could be sacked if results don’t improve soon.

Mikel Arteta rumored to replace Xavi

And talks about the replacement manager are already underway, with many candidates already being mentioned in many reports. One such report is that Barcelona could go for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to replace Xavi if he is sacked.

Arteta formerly played for Barcelona, which is where he started his career at the youth level. This means that he knows the club, which is an important factor to consider. He has recently made Arsenal one of the best teams in the Premier League, narrowly losing the title last season.

His success with the Gunners seems to have caught the eyes of President Joan Laporta, who believes the Spaniard could be the perfect successor to Xavi. However, Arteta is loyal to Arsenal ever since playing for them and may not want to move back to Spain.

Barcelona face Unionistas in the Round of 16 fixture of the Copa del Rey on Friday, and Xavi will hope for a victory to ensure his continuity at the club.