Barcelona will reportedly have the chance to appoint former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Antonio Conte as Xavi’s replacement.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, intermediaries have offered Antonio Conte to Barcelona. The former Chelsea manager has been without a job since leaving Tottenham Hotspur last year. But the reigning La Liga champions have not shown any interest in the Italian tactician yet.
Antonio Conte has had an illustrious managerial career thus far. A midfielder in his playing days, he represented only two clubs as a professional, enjoying a long and fruitful stint with Juventus, including several years as the club captain. The 54-year-old entered the coaching sphere with Siena in 2005.
Stints with Arezzo, Bari, Atalanta, and Siena followed before he first tasted sustained success with Juventus. Since then, the Italian tactician has been a serial winner, lifting multiple trophies with Chelsea and Inter Milan while also managing Tottenham Hotspur between 2021 and 2023.
The experienced manager has been without a job since leaving Tottenham last year. So, the rumour mill has unsurprisingly been abuzz about his future, linking him with several high-profile clubs, including Manchester United. Meanwhile, widespread reports in Italy have suggested Antonio Conte will replace Stefano Pioli at AC Milan. But a move to Barcelona might also be on the cards.
The report by SPORT has suggested that intermediaries have offered Conte to Barcelona. The reigning La Liga champions have been in the managerial market since Xavi Hernandez announced his intention to leave the club last month. With the spot opening up, the Catalan giants are desperately scouring for the next head coach.
Several candidates have thus emerged on Barcelona’s radar, although they are yet to show any interest in Antonio Conte. Instead, they are going the German route, with Jurgen Klopp being their priority target. But the Liverpool manager has reportedly ruled out joining Barcelona, as he wants a sabbatical after leaving the Merseyside club.
Hansi Flick is another top target for Barcelona, with recent reports claiming the job appeals to him. So, Antonio Conte might only be a backup option for the Blaugrana as the search for the next manager continues.
