MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 10:45:38| >> :120:30693:30693:

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font wants Pep Guardiola to return as head coach

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font wants Pep Guardiola to return as head coach
© Reuters
Victor Font believes the best way to keep Lionel Messi at Barcelona will be to entice former boss Pep Guardiola back to the club.

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font wants to bring Pep Guardiola back to the Nou Camp.

Font believes the best way to keep Lionel Messi at Barcelona will be to entice former boss Guardiola back to the club from Manchester City.

Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned his presidency earlier this week, after months of criticism on Barcelona's ailing finances and struggles on the pitch.

Bartomeu never recovered from Barcelona's 8-2 Champions League quarter-final humbling at the hands of eventual tournament winners Bayern Munich.

But now Font has claimed he knows how to restore the glory days at the Catalan giants – starting with a move to lure old boss Guardiola back to the club.

"Most of the best professionals who know about this style are also fans and love the club, like Pep Guardiola, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol," Font told Sky Sports News.

"They are all legends that love Barcelona but do not work for Barca today – we need to bring them back to ensure we will have a very competitive project.

"The only thing Messi needs is to know he is part of a competitive project that aspires to win the next Champions League.

"We have no doubt that if we basically have the honour to take the helm of FC Barcelona we will be able to achieve that (Messi staying)."

Bayern's 8-2 hammering of Barcelona in August sparked Messi's protracted attempt to leave the club, but a long-mooted reunion with Guardiola at Manchester City never materialised.

Ronald Koeman is battling to steady the ship after replacing Quique Setien, but Bartomeu's resignation leaves a leadership void that Font is determined to fill.

Lionel Messi file photo
Lionel Messi, pictured, had tried to engineer a move away from Barcelona in the summer (Nick Potts/PA)

Guardiola's current Manchester City contract expires next summer.

The 49-year-old steered Barcelona to three triumphs in LaLiga, two Champions League titles and two Copa del Rey victories in four years at the Nou Camp – not to mention three Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cup wins.

Guardiola joined City in 2016 and has landed two Premier League titles, as well as three League Cup triumphs and two Community Shield successes.

"Replacing the best generation the world of football has ever seen, which I believe we have had over the last decade, is a big challenge," said Font.

Font also wants the likes of Andres Iniesta, left, and Xavi to return to the club
Font also wants the likes of Andres Iniesta, left, and Xavi to return to the club (Simon Cooper/PA)

"Particularly at a time when competition is intense and many clubs are owned by very powerful owners.

"FC Barcelona also need a significant investment to rebuild the stadium and all in a world which has been hit with one of the worst crises ever (coronavirus).

"It is clear we need a very solid plan to meet these challenges and this is what we have been doing over the last few years.

"It is our intention to build a very strong and competitive project and we are very lucky at Barca that we inherited a style of play that Johan Cruyff instilled throughout the organisation."

ID:420239: cacheID:420239:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8037:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring against RB Leipzig in the Champions League on October 28, 2020
Read Next:
CL Team of the Week - Rashford, De Bruyne, Mbappe
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!