Antoine Griezmann, Barcelona Rally to Avoid Upset by Ibiza in 2020 Copa Del Rey
Jan 22, 2020
IBIZA, SPAIN - JANUARY 22: Antoine Griezmann of FC Barcelona shots to goal during the Copa del Rey Round of 32 match between UD Ibiza and FC Barcelona at Estadi Municipal de Can Misses on January 22, 2020 in Ibiza, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Barcelona survived a huge scare in the last 16 of the 2019-20 Copa del Rey as they beat third-tier side Ibiza 2-1on Wednesday.
The Blaugrana, who won the tournament four seasons in a row before losing to Valencia in last season's final, went 1-0 down at the Estadi Municipal de Can Misses inside 10 minutes when Pep Caballe turned home from 12 yards.
With 20 minutes to go, the hosts were still ahead. But an Antoine Griezmann equaliser in the 72nd minute and a winner four minutes into injury time turned the game on its head to break Ibiza hearts and earn Quique Setien his second win from two in his new role as manager.
Barca have now reached the last 16 for 15 seasons running.
Setien opted to leave Lionel Messi out of the squad completely for Wednesday's action, but he still fielded a strong side:
Barcelona XI vs. UD Ibiza: Neto; Semedo, Roberto, Lenglet, Firpo; De Jong, Rakitic, Riqui Puig; Pérez, Fati, Griezmann.
In the 10th minute, though, the visitors found themselves 1-0 down to Caballe's opener.
Riqui Puig was beaten for pace down the left by Javi Perez after an Ibiza free-kick. Perez set himself well and delivered a low cross into the penalty spot, where Caballe side-footed home.
Eight minutes later, Ibiza had the ball in the net again after a quick break down the right. But goalscorer Angel Rodado was adjudged to have committed a foul in the build-up:
9’—Ibiza 1-0 Barcelona 17’—Second Ibiza goal ruled out
Barca dominated possession but could not find any rhythm, and the best chances for another goal before the break again came from Ibiza when Rai hit the post and Rodado forced a save out of Neto:
But deep into stoppage time, Jordi Alba fed Griezmann down the left and the Frenchman beat German in the Ibiza goal to spare Barca's blushes.
What's Next?
Barcelona face a tough test in La Liga on Saturday when they visit Valencia. Ibiza, meanwhile, host Sanse in Segunda Division B on Sunday.
Quique Setien Discusses Barcelona Striker Search, Outgoing Transfers, More
Jan 22, 2020
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 19: (L-R) coach Quique Setien of FC Barcelona, second coach Eder Sarabia of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Granada at the Camp Nou on January 19, 2020 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Barcelona manager Quique Setien has weighed in on the club's search for a new striker, telling reporters discussions are taking place but he's not too worried about it.
Per Sport's Javier Giraldo, the Catalans will be without Luis Suarez for the next four months due to a knee injury. Barcelona are looking at replacements, but Setien's focus is on the upcoming schedule, not his squad:
"It's true we're speaking about it. But we still have to move things on a little bit. It's not something I am worried about too much, I'm thinking about the match tomorrow (against Ibiza in the Copa del Rey) and against Valencia. Everything else has to be studied exhaustively; then we will see what the most convenient [option] is.
"It's an issue I still can't answer and I am not going to do so. I have spoken about some things with the club, but nothing in concrete.
"They're internal issues, and it's preferable for me if you don't ask me, because I am not going to say anything, so let's not waste time."
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - JANUARY 09: Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona (C) reacts during the Supercopa de Espana Semi-Final match between FC Barcelona and Club Atletico de Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City on January 9, 2020 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by R
Per Santi Gimenez of AS, he also said everyone at the club is part of his plans, and he's not thinking about any outgoing transfers.
On the Copa del Rey match against Ibiza, Setien said he'll watch his players in training before deciding who will play. Lionel Messi will not be part of the squad.
Suarez had been a vital part of the Barcelona team tied for the La Liga lead with Real Madrid prior to his injury. In 17 outings in the competition, he bagged 11 goals and added seven assists.
Barcelona's French forward Antoine Griezmann (R) and Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez warm up ahead of the Spanish Super Cup semi final between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid on January 9, 2020, at the King Abdullah Sport City in the Saudi Arabian
His injury is a major setback for the Blaugrana, who have limited depth at the striker position.
Barcelona B's Abel Ruiz is seen as a major talent but has limited senior experience, and Ansu Fati, Carles Perez and Ousmane Dembele are both more comfortable out wide than through the centre. That leaves Antoine Griezmann and Messi as the top options, with no real backup on the bench.
According to Marca, the Catalans are looking at Valencia's Rodrigo as a potential January addition:
Those demands could be met if Barcelona cleared some wages from their current bill, and several players have been linked with a move away in January. According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Italia), the club are not happy with how Arturo Vidal tried to engineer a transfer to Inter Milan, and fellow midfielder Ivan Rakitic has also been the subject of speculation.
Per Calciomercato.com, a proposed swap deal with Juventus' Federico Bernardeschi is looking less likely than before:
Setien will have the chance to experiment with his side when they visit Ibiza on Wednesday. The minnows play in the Segunda Division B and are not expected to put up much resistance against the record 30-times champions.
Watching Quique Setien's First Barcelona Game in His Hometown of Liencres
Jan 21, 2020
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 19: coach Quique Setien of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Granada at the Camp Nou on January 19, 2020 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
The Spanish press have been having a field day with Quique Setien's surprise appointment as head coach at Barcelona. When he was unveiled at a Camp Nou press conference last week, they picked up on a phrase he used to sum up how quickly things can change in the world of football: "Yesterday I was walking amongst the cows in my village and today I'm training Barca."
The following morning, the country's biggest-selling sports newspaper, Marca, splashed a photo across its front page of a herd of cows in Setien's native Cantabria with his now-famous quote alongside a small inset photo of him holding a Barca jersey flanked either side by club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and sporting director Eric Abidal.
El Chiringuito de Jugones, which is Spanish TV's most popular football talk show, sent a roving reporter to Liencres, the Cantabrian town where Setien lives, to commune with the cows there. He reported back via a live link—debating with panellists in the studio whether the cattle were being farmed for milk or beef—as if he was a foreign correspondent on site at a major world event.
Liencres is a seaside town of about 3,500 people, perched some 10 kilometres up the coast from Santander. It's a popular retreat for the nearby city's workers, or as a suburb for them to live in, as the coastline is peppered with several spectacular beaches. It has a sleepy feel to it, with hotels boarded up for the off-season and the sound of bleating sheep carrying off into the Atlantic Ocean. The media focus on Setien, and his connections with Liencres, has left the town's inhabitants bemused.
"The thing about 'the cows' is only a foolishness," says Eloy Fernandez, owner of Bar Eloy, a pub in Liencres.
"It was just an expression Quique used to show that life can change in a flash," he adds. "It's a dream come true for him. The picture [Marca used] of cows in a field is not even from Liencres—it's from San Roman de la Llanilla, another town up the coast. They must have got it from the archives. Forty years ago, every second family here used to have cows, but not now."
‘Football is the milk,’ (the dog’s bo!!ox) proclaim Marca on tomorrow’s front page.
A nod to Quique Setién who mentioned how yesterday he was strolling by the cows in his village before becoming Barcelona manager 24 hours later.
Setien's appointment came as a surprise to his neighbours. "I'm not a football fan, so when I read the news last Monday night on the online edition of El Diario Montanes [a daily newspaper published in Santander], I didn't realise it was Barca in the premier division. I just supposed that he was made manager of a Barcelona team in the second or third [tier]. I'm really happy for him," says Yolanda Fernandez, Eloy's niece, who runs a tobacconist shop next door to the pub.
Setien doesn't come burnishing a glittering CV. He has put down over 1,000 games as a player and manager in professional football in Spain, but he's never managed a top Spanish team or coached in one of Europe's big leagues outside his home country.
As a player, he was a creative midfielder who spent a few seasons playing with Atletico Madrid in the 1980s and was capped three times by Spain. As a coach, his most notable achievements have been the attractive brands of football he got going at Las Palmas and Real Betis, but he has never won any silverware. At Barca, however, great things are inevitably expected of him. It won't be easy.
"Barcelona needed to make a [managerial] change," says Jonas Fages, a stonemason who has lived in Liencres for the last 20 years and drops into Eloy Bar on Sunday night to watch Barca's match against Granada.
"They needed something to change the dynamic, to shake things up. Setien has good experience, but not with a big club. It can be complicated. Look what happened to Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid. Sometimes at those clubs you need the natural authority that someone like Zinedine Zidane has."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRziiI20agc
Jose Manuel Portilla is the mayor of Liencres, a voluntary job he holds down when he's not paying the bills with his carpentry business, which is run out of the basement of his house, 200 metres or so from Setien's home. Portilla is one of Setien's oldest friends in the town. Their sons are the same age and grew up playing in each other's houses and went to school together. Setien's son, Laro, is a professional footballer with Sant Andreu, a team, as it happens, that plays in Barcelona.
Laro played with Racing Santander, as did his grandfather. His father, of course, also spent most of his playing career with the club, which is one of the 10 founding members of La Liga but is now languishing at the foot of the second division. The club's green and white colours are prominent in the bars of Liencres.
Portilla was caught on the hop, too, by the news that his friend was made manager of Barcelona. "I was talking to him during Christmas. He was here, very relaxed. I said to him: 'Let's see if they allow you to spend Christmas in peace before you go to Real Madrid or Barcelona.' We were just joking. I'm a Madridista. He's always been a Barca fan. We tease each other. And now look where he got the call from—Barcelona.
"It's fantastic news because he's a muchacho [top bloke], an exceptional guy. Any favour you ask him for, he's there to do it. He's great. When he comes back here in the summer, he won't be showing off that he's working at Barca. It won't go to his head, as it does with other people. He's very down to earth.
In Liencres, Setien lives a normal life—riding his bicycle up the hill to the town centre to get his bread, or out walking his dog Juanete, which is the Spanish word for bunion or the swelling on a big toe. Setien's neighbours Isabel and Pablo, a couple who moved to Liencres from Seville, say Setien can sometimes be seen cutting the tall hedge that surrounds some of his house. He's fit. People still call him "El Flaco" (The Skinny One).
There is one notable thing about his house (besides its small chapel): Instead of a garden, Setien has a seven-a-side grass football pitch—perfectly manicured with goalposts—as well as a smaller, five-a-side artificial grass pitch alongside. Setien, 61, still plays football with his friends on the homemade pitches. When Setien says he loves the ball, he means it.
Quique Setien's house complete with 7-a-side pitch
"He plays in a veterans' beach football league," says Portilla. "He's as good now as he was 30 years ago. He has the same level of skill. When you see what he can do with the ball, he'll leave you with your mouth open. Football is his life. It's his great passion. Whatever match is on, he wants to watch it. He already knows so much about the game, but he's always looking to learn more."
Setien has sent Lionel Messi and his Barcelona team-mates back to school for a refresher course in tiki-taka football. As a former player who Setien coached at Logrones remarked in an interview last week, Setien is "more Guardiolista than Guardiola." Although he's only a week in the job, Setien is living up to his reputation.
In his first game at the helm—against Granada at the Camp Nou on Sunday night—Barcelona hogged the ball, registering over 1,000 passes and accumulating almost 83 percent possession (compared to an average possession rate of 65 percent for league games during the Ernesto Valverde regime).
Everything changed, but nothing changed. Barca still required Messi to score late on to win the game against a Granada team that finished with 10 men on the pitch. There were, however, encouraging signs for Barcelona's fans. Barca ended the game with seven players from their youth academy on the field, including Riqui Puig, who was Setien's first substitute and chipped in by playing a crucial role in Messi's goal.
Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) is congratulated by Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Granada FC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona o
Puig—a slight, mercurial midfielder in the mould of Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez—is a cause celebre among Barca's fans, who are keen to revive the glory years of Pep Guardiola's homegrown, possession-based team of a decade ago.
"To win was important," says Eloy. "If Quique failed to get the three points, it would have put huge pressure on him straight away, but they won't win trophies playing like that or beat the likes of Liverpool or Juventus. They still don't have the pim-pam speed on the ball they had when Iniesta and Xavi were in the team. It will take time.
Time, though, is a commodity in short supply for Setien. The games will come thick and fast. This weekend, there's a stern test against Valencia at the Mestalla. Next month, Barca will be on the road against Napoli in the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona's board—in an unedifying spectacle—took a big gamble in sacking Valverde midseason. They'll be hoping they hit the bullseye in replacing him with Setien.
Sergio Busquets Says Barcelona Can 'Win All the Titles' Under Quique Setien
Jan 20, 2020
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 19: Sergio Busquets of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Granada at the Camp Nou on January 19, 2020 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Sergio Busquets is positive Barcelona can still win the treble under new manager Quique Setien this season.
Barca picked up a 1-0 win over Granada on Sunday in Setien's first game in charge following his appointment last week as Ernesto Valverde's replacement.
"We are feeling good at the end of the game. I think overall we have played well, but Granada made us work hard for the win.
"We do not look to compare the new coach with the old one. We are with Setien, and you will see that we are trying to do what he asks of us."
"The momentum is with us, and hopefully we can go on and win all the titles available."
Barcelona won the match at the Camp Nou thanks to Lionel Messi's decisive goal in the 76th minute, shortly after German Sanchez had been sent off for a challenge on the Argentinian that earned him his second yellow card:
It was a performance that brought back memories of the kind of showing the Blaugrana produced under Pep Guardiola during his time at the club.
Passing and possession were at the forefront of Barca's play on Sunday:
82.6% - @Barcelona’s Quique Setién has become the second manager with the highest possession figure in a @LaLigaEN game since at least 2005/06, after Pep Guardiola (84% vs Racing de Santander in 2011 and 83.9% vs Levante in 2011). Premiere. pic.twitter.com/A5FSdHyGCn
Squawka's Muhammad Butt enjoyed what he saw from the side, despite them failing to convert their dominance of the ball into more goals:
much, much, MUCH better. the scoreline isn't great, sure, but Barcelona are playing with more coherence and Barça style than they have in YEARS. maybe half a decade??
Barca's attacking prowess was diminished by the absence of Luis Suarez, who is on the sidelines after knee surgery.
For all of his mobility issues at 32—he'll be 33 on Friday—he gives the side a focal point up front, and he's their most consistent match-winner after Messi, having returned 14 goals and 11 assists in 23 games this season.
The Catalan giants missed out on the Spanish Super Cup, but they're narrowly ahead of Real Madrid atop La Liga on goal difference. They're yet to compete in the Copa del Rey, and they'll face Napoli in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, so three major trophies are still within their grasp this season.
Whether they win one or all of them could hinge on their ability to adapt to Suarez's absence or replace him in the January transfer window, as he'll be out for around four months.
Messi has bagged 17 goals and nine assists for Barca in just 21 games this season, but even he can't do it all himself.
Pep Guardiola Praises Barcelona Coach Quique Setien, Wishes Him Well
Jan 18, 2020
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 12: Manchester City manager / head coach Pep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park on January 12, 2020 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his admiration for Barcelona boss Quique Setien and wished the 61-year-old all the best at the Camp Nou.
Per Sport's Pol Ballus, the former Blaugrana boss was asked about the new man in charge and talked about meeting him and his staff in Manchester in August: "He was here in Manchester. He and his staff were very friendly. It was a pleasure. I wish Quique Setien the best. His teams have always played really nice football. I followed him especially during his time at Betis."
Setien will make his Barcelona debut on Sunday when the Blaugrana host Granada. It will be the first outing since the departure of Ernesto Valverde, who guided the team to two La Liga titles.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 14: New FC Barcelona head coach Quique Setien during the press conference during his unveiling at Camp Nou on January 14, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Valverde had grown unpopular after back-to-back UEFA Champions League exits at the hands of Roma and Liverpool, squandering three-goal leads in both ties. On top of those exits, the football had grown stale.
Per Rory Smith of the New York Times, Valverde's pragmatic approach did not fit the club ethos:
Barcelona make more money than any other club in the world, basically by selling the image of style and sophistication they built up in that golden Guardiola era. The challenge Valverde couldn’t meet, and that Setién must, is living up to that memory. https://t.co/6UIRd8ityQ
Guardiola pushed the Catalans to new heights during his spell, winning three La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League twice while playing entertaining football.
Setien should bring a similar style back to Barcelona. The veteran manager is known for prioritising attack and scoring goals, and his teams tend to play a high-risk game.
That approach was on full display at the Camp Nou in November 2018:
His attacking mindset comes at a cost, however, as his teams tend to suffer defensively. Setien's approach has yet to yield any silverware, but he's never coached a club the size of Barcelona.
The veteran manager has done everything possible to share his vision with the squad, including getting heavily involved in the training sessions:
61-year-old Quique Setien looks like he could still do a job in Barcelona's midfield 💪 pic.twitter.com/oTq9hWjv9n
Barcelona and rivals Real Madrid are tied for the La Liga lead, with both teams on 40 points after 19 matches.
The Catalans have just a single win in their last five matches across all competitions and are coming off a 3-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final. They were also held to a draw by local rivals Espanyol to start the new year.
Ronaldinho Says Lionel Messi 'Didn't Need Anything from Me' at Barcelona
Jan 17, 2020
Barcelona's Argentinian Messi (L) is congratulated by his teammate Brazilian Ronaldinho (R) after scoring during the Liga football match Barcelona vs Athletico Madrid at the New Camp in Barcelona , 07 october 2007. AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE DESMAZES (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP via Getty Images)
Ronaldinho has opened up on his friendship with Lionel Messi during their time together at Barcelona.
The Brazilian spent five years at the Camp Nou between 2003 and 2008.
Ronaldinho told Panenka magazine (h/tMarca) that upon his arrival at the club from Paris Saint-Germain, "there was already talk of a kid who stood out."
That player was Messi, who was making his way through the ranks at Barca's academy, La Masia.
The 2005 Ballon d'Or winner said the pair quickly became friends and "got on very well." After he and Barca's other players spoke to then-manager Frank Rijkaard about the Argentinian, Messi was soon promoted to training with the first team.
Messi made his debut for Barcelona in October 2004, shortly before Ronaldinho did this in the UEFA Champions League against AC Milan, with Messi watching on from the bench:
📅 #OnThisDay in 2004... ⚽ Ronaldinho unleashes an unstoppable shot!
Ronaldinho's usual position on the left wing meant Messi was moved to the right flank, which has become the defining position of his career.
The youngster bagged his first goal for the club the following May, which Ronaldinho said he was "lucky enough" to have assisted:
🔙 #OnThisDay in 2005 ⚽ Messi scored his first official goal 14 years later he needs 2 goals to reach No.6⃣0⃣0⃣ with Barça 🤔 Will he succeed today? pic.twitter.com/LfSLztOJhA
"I'd be left amazed by how calm he is," Ronaldinho added. "That's something I love about him; he never gets into trouble. He's always with his family and those closest to him. Leo has everything. He didn't need anything from me."
During the Brazilian's time at the club, Barca won two La Liga titles, the UEFA Champions League and two Spanish Super Cups.
He moved to Milan in 2008, shortly after Pep Guardiola took over as manager, and Messi became the focal point of the team following his departure.
Messi was among many who paid tribute to Ronaldinho when he retired from the game in 2018:
On this day in 2018, Ronaldinho retired from football 🇧🇷
The 32-year-old has 10 La Liga titles to his name, four UEFA Champions Leagues and six Copas del Rey, among other honours.
In 707 games for the Catalan club, he boasts an astonishing record of 619 goals and 253 assists.
Rivaldo 'Convinced' Xavi Will Eventually Manage Barcelona
Jan 16, 2020
GUANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 24: Rivaldo attends Legend Star China Tour on July 24, 2018 in Guangzhou, China. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
Xavi Hernandez said no to the Barcelona job, but Rivaldo believes the time will come when his former team-mate is in charge at the Camp Nou. The Brazilian doesn't have the same confidence in newly appointed Quique Setien, believing the ex-Real Betis boss was something of a last resort and is a man who can quickly and easily be dismissed.
Rivaldo talked up Xavi's potential, per Ben Hayward of the London Evening Standard: "I'm convinced that Xavi will sign as coach of Barcelona in future and he is already preparing for it. I believe he rejected Barca's offer because he is not ready to assume the role at this early stage of his new job as a coach."
Those thoughts echo the words of Xavi himself, after the 39-year-old said he "didn't feel that this was a good time" for him to take over at Barca, per Sky Sports. While Xavi offered his support to Setien, Rivaldo remains unconvinced the man hired on Monday to replace Ernesto Valverde will be a success.
Agreement between FC Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde to end his contract as manager of the first team. Thank you for everything, Ernesto. Best of luck in the future. pic.twitter.com/zrIgB1sW2e
Instead, Rivaldo believes 61-year-old Setien was merely the last available candidate. Barca's former No. 10 thinks Setien lucked out thanks to the club's muddled handling of Valverde's departure, per Hayward:
"At the end of the day, it's never a good thing to be negotiating with a new coach while the current one is still working for you. I think Barca have hired Setien because, having unsuccessfully gone after Xavi and (Ronald) Koeman, there was no going back on sacking Valverde. It wouldn't have made sense to keep on Valverde after all that, so they had to go with their third choice. It wouldn't be a big problem if Barcelona have to change coach again."
Rivaldo's wary appraisal is shared by BBC Sport's Andy West:
Setien's Betis spell ended horribly, but he's got a decent resume: - Led Las Palmas to their highest finish for 40 years - Led Betis to their highest finish since 2005 and to Copa del Rey semis - Beat Barça, Madrid & Atleti. - Played gorgeous football when it clicked
Yet despite the naysayers, there is reason to believe Setien can succeed with Barca. For one thing, he plays a more expressive game than Valverde.
Setien made both Las Palmas and Betis entertaining to watch thanks to an artful brand of attacking football. His bold tactics will appeal to skilled stars such as Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann.
This conversation between Quique Setién and Joaquin while they were at Real Betis 😂 pic.twitter.com/Qhsv0v17l6
62.5% - Under Quique Setién, Real Betis had a possession figure of 62.5% in LaLiga 2018/19, the highest figure for a team in a single season since at least 2005/06 (excluding Barcelona). DNA. pic.twitter.com/8PVGw91eMx
By contrast, Valverde was often considered pragmatic during a tenure where he won trophies but failed to fully convince. Valverde won a pair of La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey, but high-profile collapses against AS Roma and Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League damaged his credibility, and so did defeat to Valencia in last season's Copa final.
Setbacks like those led Barca to explore ways of bringing Xavi back to the Camp Nou. Currently managing in Qatar with Al Sadd, Xavi was still made an offer by Barca sporting director Eric Abidal and CEO Oscar Grau, according to Football Espana's Colin Millar.
69,5% - Ernesto Valverde has won the 69,5% of his LaLiga games for @FCBarcelona (66 out of his 95 matches), the fifth most for a Barcelona's manager ever. Predestined pic.twitter.com/jwVoo9036G
The pursuit of Xavi was public, with Al Sadd general manager Turki Al-Ali confirming talks were being held, per another report from Hayward. Meanwhile, Guillem Balague wrote for BBC Sport how Xavi was wary about the 2021 presidential elections set to take place at Barca, while additional concerns about how much control he would have to build his team also loomed large.
Goal's Rik Sharma reinforced the idea of Barcelona being adrift as a club, describing it as "drowning" on the watch of president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Meeting the lofty expectations entrenched at Barca against the backdrop of uncertainty among the executive structure would have made this a daunting step up for Xavi, who is still learning his trade in the dugout. A player who was one of the smartest in the game when he used to boss midfield for the Blaugrana, is wise to take his time before again considering the ultimate job.
Barcelona Reportedly Targeting Ramos Mingo, Marcos Paulo and Yan Couto
Jan 16, 2020
Brazil's Yan Couto, left, and Mexico's Bryan Gonzalez go for a header during the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 final soccer match at Arena Bezerrao in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Boca Juniors youngster Santiago Ramos Mingo is reportedly one of three South American players being targeted by Barcelona.
According to Sport(h/t MailOnline's Kieran Jackson), Barca are close to sealing a deal for the 18-year-old defender, who has yet to make his Boca first-team debut.
The Blaugrana are reportedly still working on negotiating a good price for the Argentinian, who has not signed a professional contract yet with Boca.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are also eyeing Brazilian youngsters Marcos Paulo and Yan Couto.
Per AS, (h/t Jackson), Fluminensestriker Paulo is a target for both Barca and Real Madrid after the Blaugrana had a £4.2 million bid turned down last summer.
Paulo is Brazilian born but has represented Portugal at youth level. He has a contract with Fluminense to 2021, but he will not extend it any further, per AS.
Barca's other young Brazilian target is Coritiba full-back Couto.
Couto is another player who has yet to make his competitive first-team debut for his club.
He was, though, a star for Brazil when they won the 2019 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in November, during which he said he would like to play for Real in the future:
🔥 17 quickfire questions with @CBF_Futebol U-17 right-back Yan Couto at the #U17WC
Couto's express pace is likely one of the key attractions for Barca.
If they do sign him, it could pave the way for the departure of another Barca player. They are already well-stocked in the right-back position with Nelson Semedo, Sergi Roberto and Moussa Wague on their books, as well as a buy-back clause on Real Betis' Emerson.
Xavi Confirms He Turned Down Barcelona, Says 'Dream' Job Was 'Too Early' for Him
Jan 16, 2020
DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 17: Al-Sadd SC head coach Xabvier Hernandez looks on prior to the match between Al-Sadd SC and ES Tunis at Khalifa International Stadium on December 17, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Xavi has confirmed he turned down the chance to manage Barcelona, suggesting it would have been "too early" for him to take over the role.
Barcelona parted ways with Ernesto Valverde this week, with Quique Setien drafted in to replace him at the Camp Nou.
As rumours swirled around Valverde, there was also speculation Barcelona approached Xavi about taking over, with the former midfielder confirming he held talks with key figures at the Camp Nou. The Al Sadd boss said he did have the opportunity to return to his former club but didn't think it was the right time, per ElMundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana):
"Yes, I received an offer from Barcelona in a meeting with Eric Abidal and Oscar Grau, but I did not accept it, especially because it is too early to train Barcelona, but it will remain my dream in the future to be a Barcelona coach.
"I love Barcelona's new coach, I love his way of working and I hope he succeeds with the team. First I told my family and then the Al Sadd players because they followed the issue. For three days I was not in my best position but now I am totally focused on Al Sadd."
Xavi is an icon with the Catalan giants, having made more appearances for the club than anyone and won 25 trophies in a 17-year spell in the first team.
Spanish football journalist David Cartlidge said he understands why Xavi opted against taking the job at this point:
The potential transition to Xavi in the last few days was kinda sad. Here is the club icon being pushed into a situation he clearly wanted no part of it. It’s his dream job, EVERY condition has to be right.
While Barcelona are joint-leaders in La Liga and into the knockout stages of the Champions League, there was a sense of inevitability about the departure of Valverde.
Although he was able to build a cohesive Barcelona team that tapped into Lionel Messi's brilliance to win matches, Valverde's style wasn't in line with iconic former coaches like Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola. The team also suffered embarrassing collapses in the UEFA Champions League against Roma and Liverpool.
Setien is a coach whose principles are more similar to the classic Barcelona mantras, as he prioritises expansive and possession-based football. Per Samuel Marsden of ESPN FC, the former Real Betis boss has also taken an early interest in the youth setup:
Been non stop for Setien this week. He’s at the Barca B game tonight against Badalona pic.twitter.com/dasg5Jjvuf
If Xavi continues to do good work with Al Sadd as a head coach, it feels inevitable that he will eventually take charge at Barcelona in the future.
Setien has signed a deal until 2022, though, so it appears the Blaugrana are willing to give him an opportunity to put his mark on the team. Although there may be doubts as to whether Setien will succeed at Barcelona, his attacking mindset will ensure they are entertaining to watch in the final months of the campaign at least.
Jean-Clair Todibo Loaned to Schalke 04 from Barcelona for €1.5M Fee
Jan 15, 2020
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 04: Jean Claire Todibo of FC Barcelona looks on prior the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Arsenal at Nou Camp on August 04, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Barcelona announced on Wednesday they have agreed a deal to loan defender Jean-Clair Todibo to Schalke for the rest of the 2019-20 season for a fee of €1.5 million:
The 20-year-old arrived at the Camp Nou in January 2019 on a free transfer from Toulouse but has only managed five first-team appearances for the club.
Barcelona confirmed the deal includes a purchase option of €25 million, plus €5 million in add-ons. The Spanish champions also retain a buyback option of €50 million, plus €10 million in variables.
Schalke have confirmed Todibo will take the No. 21 shirt at the Bundesliga club, while manager David Wagner explained why they had moved to bring in the youngster, per the club's officialwebsite:
"We said during the training camp in Spain that we would only be active in the market if something opened up that would help us. That's definitely the case for Jean-Clair Todibo, who is one of the best young central defenders in Europe. Since Benjamin Stambouli's recovery is taking a little longer than we had all hoped, it makes sense to bring in another central defender. He can also play in defensive midfield. We will all do our best to support him in the development of his clear potential. We're looking forward to having him."
Todibo had to wait until April 2019 to make his debut for Barcelona, starting in a 0-0 draw at Huesca in La Liga. His only other appearance in 2018-19 was in a 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo in May.
The Frenchman has managed three appearances for Barca in 2019-20 but attracted plaudits for his performance against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League. He played all 90 minutes of Barca's 2-1 win at the San Siro and was praised for his handling of Nerazzurri striker Lautaro Martinez:
weird game. Lautaro was immense but Todibo was immenser. rest of Inter were meh. Lukaku perma-offside. Frenkie and Ansu coming on changed the game for the Blaugrana.
However, the 20-year-old is behind Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti in the pecking order at the Camp Nou and will be hoping he can secure more game time at Schalke.
Todibo offered his thoughts after sealing a switch to the Bundesliga side, who are currently in fifth place in the table.
"The club's management convinced me of their project, seeking success with young players," he said. "That's why I chose to join Schalke 04."
Todibo's departure could mean new Barca manager Quique Setien opts to promote Ronald Araujo to the first-team squad from Barcelona B.
The Uruguayan made his Barcelona debut in October's 4-0 win over Sevilla. He replaced Todibo after 73 minutes but was then sent off in the closing stages for bringing down Javier Hernandez.
