Barcelona will reportedly contemplate appointing 48-year-old Argentine manager Marcelo Gallardo as a possible replacement for Xavi Hernandez.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Marcelo Gallardo is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The reigning La Liga champions are in the market for a manager to replace Xavi Hernandez at the end of the 2023/24 season. And they have set their sights on the 48-year-old Al-Ittihad manager.
Marcelo Gallardo was the quintessential journeyman during his professional career. An attacking midfielder by trade, the Argentine represented his country 44 times. Meanwhile, he enjoyed three spells with River Plate while representing well-known clubs like AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain.
The 48-year-old entered the managerial world in 2011, beginning his career in Uruguay. But he rose to prominence after joining River Plate in 2014, winning 14 trophies in eight years with the Argentine giants. Meanwhile, Gallardo is currently managing Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, replacing Nuno Espirito Santo at the club.
While he has not hit the ground running at Al-Ittihad, losing as many games as he has won, his stock remains high. And Barcelona might look to appoint Marcelo Gallardo as the replacement for Xavi Hernandez. Interestingly, the former Argentine international has been on their radar for several years.
Xavi Hernandez recently announced his impending departure from Barcelona. The 44-year-old will leave the Catalan club at the end of the 2023/24 season after growing disillusioned with the position. So, Barcelona will have to scour the market for a manager that will fit the club’s ethos.
Several candidates, including Hansi Flick, have thus emerged on Barcelona’s radar. But Marcelo Gallardo is also a viable target for the reigning La Liga champions. The 48-year-old Argentine employs a style of play that fits the mould at the Catalan club. In addition, he has the experience of winning multiple trophies and will bring that attitude to the Barcelona dressing room.
But prising Gallardo away from Al-Ittihad might be a tall order for Barcelona. The former River Plate manager has barely been with the Saudi Pro League champions for a few weeks. So, it will be interesting to see if he is ready to leave his riches in the Middle East to join Barcelona.
