Barcelona sporting director, Deco has dismissed report stating Jose Mourinho is among the candidates to replace Xavi Hernandez as the Blaugrana manager.
When Xavi abruptly announced in January that he would be leaving his position as head coach of Barcelona at the end of the current campaign, a search was launched to find his replacement.
Mourinho left Roma last month, and Spanish reports suggested he is a candidate for the Barcelona job.
If confirmed as the man to oversee the affair of Barca from next season, he would become just the third manager in history to oversee both the Catalan club and Real Madrid. Recall, the 61-year-old had a three-year tenure with los Blancos.
According to reports, Mourinho and Deco, the sporting director of Barca, are close. They also share an agent, Jorge Mendes, who helped move Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix to the Catalan giants last season.
Deco, however, has downplayed rumors that Mourinho will be joining Barcelona despite the connections.
According to The Metro, Deco told Esport3 when questioned about the former Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham manager.
“He is a great friend of mine but I haven’t talked with him in a long time”.
On the club’s search for a new head coach, he added: ‘We’re looking for a manager who can adapt to the club’s situation and that can keep developing the young players we have.”
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Several well-known managers have been linked to the soon-to-be-vacant Barcelona position. Mikel Arteta, Roberto De Zerbi and even Jurgen Klopp have all been touted to take over the helm.
Klopp recently announced his decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after almost nine years in the Reds’ dug-out.
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