Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi emerges as favourite to replace Xavi at Barcelona

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Brighton and Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi could be set to replace Xavi at Barcelona

Roberto De Zerbi, Manager of Brighton & Hove Albion, applauds fans following the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Bramall Lane on January 27, 2024 in Sheffield, England.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi is the early frontrunner to replace Xavi and take over as Barcelona manager at the end of the season, according to Marca’s Luis Rojo.

After the Catalan giants lost an eight-goal thriller at home to Villareal to slip 11 points behind surprise La Liga leaders Girona, Xavi announced he would leave when the current campaign draws to a close, saying “the club needs a change of dynamic.”

Speculation immediately began over Xavi’s successor, with Arsenal managed initially Mikel Arteta linked with the job until he rubbished reports as “fake news” ahead of the Gunners’ Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.

De Zerbi has received various plaudits for the impact he has had at The Seagulls since he replaced Graham Potter and has been identified as a leading candidate for the Camp Nou hot seat.

The 44-year-old joined the Premier League outfit in September 2022 on a four-year deal and led Brighton to a sixth-place finish  - which qualified them for the UEFA Europa League - in his first season at the helm.

It’s not only results that the Italian is revered for, but he also has an army of admirers for the fluent, attacking style of play with which his teams play.

Brighton are currently seventh in the Premier League and are through to the knockout phase of the Europa League after finishing top of their group.

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Andy Wright
Andy Wright

Andy is a freelance sports journalist whose work has appeared across a number of print and online titles, including Golf Monthly, Eurosport and TNT Sports. He graduated in 2019 and began his career working in golf before joining Future in February 2021 as a staff writer for Golf Monthly. Andy has since decided to branch out into other sports and now covers football, rugby, snooker, UFC, Formula 1, boxing, and others. He is a Manchester United fan and joins the FourFourTwo team at an interesting time for his club and the game as a whole.