Ex-Liverpool midfielder asks Barcelona to replace outgoing manager Xavi with Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has admitted in the past that he has no interest in managing in the future.

Ex-Liverpool midfielder asks Barcelona to replace outgoing manager Xavi with Lionel Messi

Danny Murphy believes Xavi should be replaced by Messi, who can turn anything to gold (Images via The Sun and Goal)

Xavi Hernandez recently announced that he was going to leave FC Barcelona after the end of the season, claiming he felt worthless at the club. He had made the decision months before the start of the current season and decided to announce it after a 5-3 loss to Athletic Bilbao.

With the talks beginning of who would replace the outgoing Spaniard, many fans and pundits have put their picks forward. However, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes a certain Argentine legend should be his replacement.

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Speaking to talkSPORT, Murphy claims Barcelona should approach Lionel Messi as Xavi’s successor. The 46-year-old claims Messi has the Midas touch and should be hired regardless of his inexperience with football management.

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I'd give it to Messi, the fans are on board straight away. Everything he touches turns to gold. He was put on this earth to do amazing things. It's not going to stop in management.
Danny Murphy said via talkSPORT

Messi in the past has confirmed he has no interest in working as a manager, but would keep his options open. He referenced Zinedine Zidane, who claimed he never wanted to work as a manager. He still ventured into the field, winning three Champions Leagues consecutively.

FC Barcelona has identified and contacted Xavi’s successor 

While fans and pundits keep wondering who Barcelona will hire as Xavi’s successor, Christian Falk believes the club has already found the perfect fit. Deco, the sporting director, has already contacted him as well, informing him he has been shortlisted as a potential successor. 

Hansi Flick
Hansi Flick’s last job ended up with him being the first manager to be sacked by the German national team. (Image via GOAL)

According to Falk, that manager is Hansi Flick from Germany. Joan Laporta, the club President, is interested in signing the German, trying to get his services back in 2021. Along with Flick, Thomas Tuchel has also been shortlisted. 

Flick began his managerial career at Viktoria Bammental, where played as a player-manager. After being removed, he joined 1899 Hoffenheim, with whom he gained promotion to the third tier of the German Football pyramid. After failing to get a promotion, he was fired. 

For 13 years he worked as an assistant coach. It was first at RB Salzburg, but then he joined Joachim Lowe at the German National Team. He was a part of the coaching staff of the 2014 World Cup-winning German team. He was then made director of the National team in 2017 but left in 2019. 

In 2019, he joined Bayern Munich as an assistant manager but was soon promoted to manager after Niko Kovac’s departure. Under Flick, Bayern won every trophy available to him, including the Treble in 2019-20. He soon joined Germany as their new Manager but was sacked two years later due to poor form. He is also the first National Team manager to be sacked 

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