Barcelona legend Xavi makes stance clear on joining Lionel Messi's Inter Miami as head coach: Reports
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has reported on former Barcelona manager Xavi's stance on joining Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. The Catalan tactician played alongside the Argentine great for Blaugrana and was recently tipped to take over as The Herons' manager.
Balague claims that Xavi will take a year-long sabbatical from the game before considering his next job, preferably in European football. This means he is not planning to join Messi in Miami.
Gerardo Martino, another former Barca manager, remains in charge of Inter Miami after leading them to the MLS Playoffs for the first time this season. He also helped them win the Supporters' Shield.
Martino has overseen 67 games for the MLS franchise, averaging 1.9 points per game. Martino previously averaged 2.22 points per game during his 59 games in charge of the Spanish giants.
Xavi, who managed 143 games for Barcelona, averaged 2.07 points per game and helped them win the 2023 LaLiga title. The former midfielder earlier played 399 games with Lionel Messi for Barcelona and combined for 41 goals. The duo helped the Catalan giants to four UEFA Champions Leagues and seven LaLiga titles.
What former Barcelona boss Xavi said about Lionel Messi's choice to join Inter Miami
In 2023, Former Barcelona coach Xavi shared his thoughts on Lionel Messi's decision to move to Inter Miami after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired. The Argentine superstar was reportedly courted by his former side after leaving the French giants, but he opted to join the MLS outfit instead.
Messi is the greatest player in Barcelona history. His record of 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 games helped the club to 10 LaLiga wins and four UEFA Champions Leagues. However, he left the club in 2021 after their financial difficulties made registering him on a new contract impossible, and he opted not to rejoin the club in 2023.
Speaking about his former teammate's decision, the former Blaugrana captain and head coach at the time told Jijantes (via GOAL):
"I have noticed a change in him over the last few days and weeks. He doesn't see things as clearly and we have to respect him. We often don't put ourselves in someone else's situation, we lack empathy. Being Leo Messi can't be easy. He never has any peace and has to be a 10 in everything. He has seen that he hasn't had a good time and he doesn't want this kind of pressure, it's normal."
He concluded, adding:
"The excitement was generated because we both talked, we have talked a lot. We were all looking forward to it, first for him, then for me and then for the club. But the circumstances didn't work out... He wanted to lower the level of pressure and tension. He wants a quieter life."
Lionel Messi has become the highest goalscorer in Inter Miami's history, scoring 34 goals in 39 appearances. Xavi was dismissed as Barcelona's manager earlier in the year and is currently without a club.