Barcelona director Deco approves European giants’ manager as Xavi’s replacement: Reports

Barcelona director Deco is reportedly eyeing FC Porto boss Sergio Conceicao as Xavi’s alternative at Camp Nou.

Catalunya Radio (through Managing Barca) stories that the Barca director has accepted his fellow countryman as Xavi’s successor. The latter has introduced that he’s leaving the Catalan giants on the finish of the ocean

Conceicao’s inventory has grown at Porto the place he is delivered three Primeira Liga titles and three Portuguese Cups. He is overseen 259 wins in 357 video games in cost on the Estadio do Dragao. His facet at the moment sit third in Liga Portugal and are additionally within the final 16 of the UEFA Champions League, dealing with Arsenal.

The Portuguese tactician’s contract with Dragões expires on the finish of the season. This offers Barcelona the right alternative to launch a transfer for him.

Xavi introduced his departure from the Catalan giants on the finish of the season following a 5-3 defeat to Villarreal. His facet have struggled to duplicate their La Liga title-winning 2022-23 marketing campaign, sitting third, 10 factors behind leaders Actual Madrid at current.

The Blaugrana have been linked with a number of European coaches as Xavi’s potential alternative. These embody Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Actual Sociedad’s Imanol Alguacil and Michel Sanchez (Girona), per FC Barcelona Noticias.

Nonetheless, Conceicao seems to be Barca’s high candidate to succeed Xavi. Deco is seemingly an admirer of the Portuguese coach who has been in command of Porto since 2017.

Deco confirms Barcelona will attraction Vitor Roque’s purple card of their 3-1 win towards Alaves

Barcelona put the uncertainty over the managerial place on the membership past this season to at least one facet on Saturday (February 3). The Catalan giants beat Alaves 3-1 courtesy of objectives from Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and Vitor Roque.

Nonetheless, Xavi’s facet had been compelled to see out the final 20 minutes of the sport with 10 males. Roque was handed a purple card for 2 bookable offenses however a type of was extraordinarily contentious.

The Brazilian teen tried to nick the ball again off Alaves defender Rafa Marin. It appeared that the Spanish center-back was extra culpable as each went to the bottom off the again of their collision.

Nonetheless, referee Martínez Munuera handed Roque a second yellow card and subsequently gave him his marching orders. It was a call that infuriated Barcelona.

Deco has confirmed that the membership will attraction the choice (through Barca Occasions):

“We are going to attempt to attraction the choice on Vitor Roque and hopefully the second yellow card will get erased.”

Barca’s victory was a significant one because it saved them nonetheless in with a shout at efficiently defending their La Liga crown. They’re subsequent in motion on Sunday (February 11) once they face Granada.