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Topics: Lionel Messi, Manchester United, Xavi, Barcelona, Erik Ten Hag, Football
Ryan Smart
Topics: Lionel Messi, Manchester United, Xavi, Barcelona, Erik Ten Hag, Football
Lionel Messi has reportedly given a private view on joining Manchester United amid claims that Xavi has entered talks over potentially replacing current United boss Erik ten Hag.
Xavi has been out of work since leaving his role as Barcelona manager at the end of last season.
He has been in talks over taking a new role as the head coach of the Qatar national team, having finished his playing career in the Gulf state.
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But on Tuesday, the Daily Mail reported that United, through club intermediaries, had opened talks with Xavi's representatives over the possibility of the Spaniard replacing Ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag is under pressure amid United's worst start to a Premier League season since 1989, but the Red Devils did beat Brentford 2-1 to ease some of that pressure.
Xavi has never played for or managed an English club, but is fluent in the language and has previously expressed his admiration for English football on multiple occasions.
He worked with United chief executive Omar Berrada during their time at Barcelona, with Berrada having been the Spanish club's marketing manager between 2004 and 2011 before moving to Manchester City.
Another player who was at Camp Nou during that time with Messi, who spent the first part of his career alongside Xavi in various hugely successful Barcelona teams.
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Now at Inter Miami, Messi is still going strong at the age of 37, but time is running out on any possibility of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner playing in England.
Although extremely unlikely to be the case, Xavi's appointment at United could theoretically convince Messi to make the move before his playing career ends.
And the Barcelona icon has reportedly made his feelings clear on a potential move to Old Trafford.
In 2007, he was linked with a move to United when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge - two years before his star performance as Barcelona beat the Red Devils 3-1 in the Champions League final.
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He flat out rejected any notion of a transfer when asked about the links, but The Athletic reported in 2020 that he was 'more charmed' by 'historic English clubs such as Manchester United' amid his ongoing contract saga at Camp Nou.
United would ultimately miss out on signing Messi as he joined PSG instead - and any chance of him playing in English football now seems remote at best.