Barcelona: Xavi 'open to anything' amid Koeman job rumours
Long rumoured as a candidate to coach Barcelona, Xavi is open to a Camp Nou comeback with question marks remaining over Ronald Koeman's tenure.
Xavi did nothing to quash rumours that he could replace Ronald Koeman at embattled LaLiga giants Barcelona, saying he is "open to anything".
Xavi was among the favourites for the Barça job before Koeman was hired as head coach in August 2020 and has been the name on everyone's lips as the Catalans have struggled this season.
Barça great Xavi has presided over Qatari side Al-Sadd since his retirement in 2019, leading them to a league title and five domestic cups, but a return to the Camp Nou would be difficult to resist.
Ahead of Sunday's Nations League final between Spain and France, Xavi left the door open for a return.
Xavi: Barcelona offer "will be evaluated"
"Any offer will be evaluated and then a decision will be made," Xavi told TVE. "I don't know where my future will take me, but I'm open to anything."
The 41-year-old made 505 appearances for Barça as a player from 1998 through 2015.
Xavi, who moved to Al-Sadd in 2015 before signing a contract extension as coach through 2023 in May, held the record for most Barça appearances before it was broken by Lionel Messi last season.
Others mentioned as potential replacements for Koeman include Belgium boss Roberto Martinez, River Plate head coach Marcelo Gallardo, former Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo and Ajax's Erik ten Hag.
Koeman remains in the job, and Barça president Joan Laporta affirmed his support for the embattled former Blaugrana star on Friday.
"We have every confidence in him, he's our coach, and he deserves some leeway as he believes in the team and hasn't been able to call on the entire squad yet," Laporta told RAC1.
Barcelona are ninth in LaLiga, five points adrift of leaders Real Madrid with a game in hand.