Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has made his feelings known as he is disgusted with the treatment Valverde has been receiving. In fact the formal player is not impressed and has criticised his former club over the treatment of manager Ernesto Valverde, describing their public courting of Xavi as “ugly”. “What Barcelona are doing is a bit ugly,” says ex-Barca midfielder, with former teammate Xavi reportedly holding talks with the club about replacing under pressure Spaniard.
The Spanish champions are not wasting any time as they appear ready to move quickly to line up former Spain and Barca playmaker Xavi to replace Valverde. Valverde, is under growing pressure following Barca’s exit from the Spanish Super Cup last week at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
Sporting director Eric Abidal and chief executive Oscar Grau travelled to Doha over the weekend to hold talks with Xavi, the current manager of Qatari club Al Sadd. The former Barcelona playmaker is said to have been offered an two and a half year deal to replace Valverde. Valverde current deal will expire in June.
Barcelona are top of La Liga and have lifted back to back league titles under Valverde, but there are concerns over the team’s levels of performance and style.
“What Barcelona are doing is a bit ugly. They have to have some respect for their current coach, the way things are done are what hurt the most,” Iniesta told Onda Cero radio station on Monday.
Xavi told his club’s website on Sunday it was his “dream” to one day coach Barcelona. But reports in Spain suggest the 39-year-old, who played with Iniesta at Barca in their most successful era where they won four Champions League titles among numerous other trophies, will not accept the job until the end of the current campaign.
