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Barcelona 'keen to bring Pep Guardiola back to club'

Barcelona 'keen to bring Pep Guardiola back to club'
© Reuters
Barcelona president Joan Laporta allegedly wants to bring Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola back to Camp Nou this summer as Xavi's replacement.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reportedly ready to 'pull out all of the stops' in a bid to bring Pep Guardiola back to Camp Nou at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

The Catalan outfit will appoint a new manager this summer, with Xavi revealing last weekend that he will be stepping down as head coach once the current season has finished.

Xavi's position at the helm has been called into question in recent weeks due to the team's struggles, and the legendary former midfielder said that "this club needs a change of dynamic" when revealing his reasons for deciding to move on at the end of the campaign.

The 44-year-old said on Tuesday that his work "is not valued enough" but did claim that he would potentially be open to discussing a return at some stage in the future.

Barcelona B head coach Rafael Marquez has expressed an interest in replacing Xavi, while Bologna manager Thiago Motta has also allegedly been identified as a target.

Barcelona head coach Xavi on January 21, 2024© Reuters

There have also been suggestions that Jurgen Klopp, who is leaving Liverpool this summer, is on the club's shortlist alongside Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Arteta has denied rumours that he is leaving the Gunners this summer, though, with the Spaniard branding claims that he has decided to seek pastures new "totally untrue".

According to El Chiringuito TV, Laporta is determined to bring Guardiola back to Camp Nou, but he faces a battle to convince the Spaniard to leave Manchester City.

The 53-year-old represented Barcelona as a player between 1984 and 2001, including an 11-year stint in the first team, before returning to the club in a coaching capacity in 2007.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts on January 26, 2024© Reuters

Guardiola was first in charge of Barcelona B before taking on the first-team managerial role in 2008, and a hugely successful spell saw him deliver three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey crowns and two Champions League trophies.

The Spaniard left Barcelona in June 2012 before returning to management with Bayern Munich one year later, and he had another successful three-year spell before moving to Man City.

Guardiola has delivered five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League during his time in charge of the Citizens.

The ex-midfielder has a contract at the Etihad Stadium until the end of next season, though, and he is expected to spend at least one more campaign with the reigning English champions.

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