A man with dark hair in front of the Manchester United logo on a blue background.

Official, Xavi Signs With Manchester United: He Takes 2 Barça Players With Him

The Catalan coach is very close to returning to the benches and his signing for the English team

The Situation at Manchester United Has Reached a Critical Point. After a season full of setbacks and without a clear identity, the English club's management has decided it's time for a radical change. Rubén Amorim, who arrived with the label of a promising coach, hasn't met expectations, and his dismissal seems imminent.

Man. United | @raphaelvarane

In This Context, Xavi Hernández's Name Has Gained Strength as the Ideal Candidate to Take the Reins of the Team. With his sabbatical year about to conclude, the former FC Barcelona coach is listening to offers, and the one that most appeals to him so far comes from Old Trafford.

According to several sources, the conversations are advanced, and everything indicates that Xavi will land in Manchester with his trusted team.  However, he won't do it alone: the coach has requested the incorporation of two Barça players as part of his new project.

Xavi with Barça | @FCBarcelona

Laporta Benefits from the Move

In Barcelona, This Situation Has Been Welcomed. Despite Xavi's departure a few months ago, his relationship with Joan Laporta remains good. Now his arrival in the Premier League could leave the blaugrana club with one last economic favor.

Manchester United has no money problems and is willing to accept the Catalan coach's conditions. Xavi has put forward the names of two key Barça players he considers essential for his new project in England.

The figures being discussed are around 150 million euros, an amount that would significantly help improve the club's finances and provide leeway in the transfer market.

Xavi, at a press conference with the different journalists from Spain, dressed in the coach's main kit
Xavi | @FCBarcelona_es

Two Star Signings and a Great Revolution

Besides the reinforcements he intends to bring from Barça, Xavi also has clear ideas about what changes he will make to Manchester United's squad.

One of His First Moves Would Be to Dispense with Casemiro, Whom He Doesn't Consider Key in His Game Plan. Despite his experience, the Brazilian hasn't fit into the team, and his performance has been inconsistent. The English club is willing to terminate his contract and seek an exit for him.

Xavi Hernández | @FCBarcelona

To replace him, Xavi will request the arrival of a midfielder with greater mobility and vision of the game. Among the names he is considering are Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich and Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

Additionally, the Catalan coach will try to recover Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa. The English forward was on Barça's radar during the last winter market, but the club couldn't register him.

Joshua Kimmich, in a match with the red and white Bayern Munich shirt
Kimmich with Bayern | @FCBayern

Manchester United in Free Fall

Manchester United Is Going Through One of Its Worst Moments in Recent History. Currently, it occupies the fourteenth position in the Premier League with just 33 points and is 34 points behind the leader, Liverpool.

The team has been unable to compete with the big clubs in England and is 14 points behind Manchester City, the last club in the Champions League zone.

In this scenario, Xavi's arrival is perceived as a desperate attempt to recover the club's football identity and return it to the elite of European football.

The Chosen Ones

The Players Xavi Wants to Take from Barça Are None Other Than Ronald Araújo and Frenkie de Jong.

The Uruguayan Center-Back Is One of the Most Solid Defenders in the World and Would Fit Perfectly into the Catalan Coach's Scheme. His leadership, speed, and ability to anticipate forwards make him a key piece to strengthen United's defense.

A man with short curly hair smiles as he makes a peace sign with his hand, wearing a black sports jacket with pink and blue details and a logo on the chest.
Araújo with Barça | @FCBarcelona

On the Other Hand, De Jong Has Been an Essential Player for Barça. But his high salary and the club's need to generate income could facilitate his departure. Xavi considers the Dutchman ideal for managing Manchester United's midfield and giving it the control of the game it so desperately needs.

A football player in an FC Barcelona uniform pointing with his arm outstretched during a match.
De Jong with Barça | @FCBarcelona

With the possible departure of Araújo and De Jong, Barça would face a significant reconfiguration of its squad. However, the financial injection of 150 million euros would allow the club to face new signings and balance its financial situation.

The Final Decision Will Depend on the Negotiations Between the Clubs and the Players' Desire. But if everything progresses as expected, Xavi's last service to Barça could be leaving it with a great economic relief.