<p>Several managers have been mentioned in connection with Barcelona’s hunt for a replacement for Xavi Hernandez this summer. Interestingly, the Blaugrana have been sensational ever since the Spaniard announced his summer exit.</p>



<p>Perhaps the closing games of the season have energized the squad since every player is battling for a spot on the team once again. Surprising as it may seem, they are still in with a chance of winning <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">La Liga</a> and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-uefa-champions-league-and-europa-league-on-us-tv-and-internet/">UEFA Champions League</a>.</p>



<p>As a result, the Blaugrana have reportedly made it plain that they want the 44-year-old to stay. This is still a no-brainer for the club, says <a href="https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/04/04/moyes-still-in-limbo-at-west-ham-barca-will-wait-for-xavi-and-more/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fabrizio Romano</a>.</p>



<p>“Barcelona have clear intentions in any case. Laporta wants to wait for Xavi, hoping for him to change his mind. Barca will wait again for Xavi, for sure. Then if he decides to confirm that he wants to leave Barca will consider other candidates, but they’re not advancing in talks with any other coach as they want to wait for Xavi.”</p>



<h2>Young Andoni Iraola resume impresses Barcelona</h2>



<p>Whether Joan Laporta and Deco successfully convince Xavi to continue working on his idea is an open issue. Consequently, Barcelona is keeping tabs on how Andoni Iraola is doing at Bournemouth in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a>, <a href="https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/premier-league/iraola-magia-barca-acecho-100572141" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sport</a> says.</p>



<p>Among Europe’s younger managers, the 41-year-old is among the most regarded. The Athletic Club was his home for most of his playing career. Having played for New York City for one season, however, his playing days in the United States came to an end.</p>



<p>To get into management, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/bournemouth-appoint-andoni-iraola-highly-rated-spanish-coach-20230620-WST-438657.html">Iraola</a> took over Cyprus’s AEK Larnaca in 2018. However, after signing with Rayo Vallecano in 2020 and leading the Spanish club to La Liga in each of his three seasons there, his worth skyrocketed.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240404_WST_499375_Iraola-Solanke-1200x670_cef4150a.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-499407" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Iraola-Solanke-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Iraola-Solanke-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Iraola-Solanke-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Iraola-Solanke.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>Following his summer switch to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bournemouth-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers">Bournemouth</a>, the Spanish coach has maintained his meteoric rise to fame. For the most part, the 2023-24 season got off to a slow start under the Spanish manager, who took over in the summer.</p>



<p>But recently, they’ve been on a tear, as the Cherries have surpassed all Premier League clubs in points since March arrived. That’s why Barcelona has reportedly been made aware of his development with the Premier League club.</p>



<h2>Long-time target?</h2>



<p>The Basque coach had previously improved Rayo Vallecano and the Camp Nou outfit is reportedly pleased enough to be monitoring his progress in England as well. The 41-year-old led Rayo to remarkable 12th and 11th-place finishes.</p>



<p>They also achieved a Copa del Rey semi-final and many illustrious triumphs against Real Madrid and Barcelona. He achieved this promotion via the play-offs.</p>



<p>There was no accident when sporting director Deco named Iraola as one of the “top managers” in a recent interview. If Iraola keeps up his current rate of success, elite clubs will be vying for his signature in no time.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>

Barca seek Premier League most-improved boss to replace Xavi

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is now one of the prospects Barcelona is looking at if it fails to keep Xavi on board.

<p>An inquiry into alleged corruption led to the Wednesday arrest of Luis Rubiales, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) ex-head. And apparently, he may take former Barcelona defender <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/former-barcelona-star-credits-messi-as-us-soccers-savior-20240225-WST-491615.html">Gerard Pique</a> down with him.</p>



<p>According to Spain’s state prosecutors, police searched eleven locations for evidence. The investigation into corruption and money laundering led to the arrest of seven people, including <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-bans-disgraced-spain-fa-luis-rubiales-for-three-years-20231030-WST-465839.html">Rubiales</a>.</p>



<p>Upon his arrival in Madrid from the Dominican Republic, authorities apprehended Rubiales. He was thus subjected to a short interrogation by the authorities. In 2019, the RFEF and the Saudi sports authorities reached a lucrative three-year agreement to host the tournament in Saudi Arabia. He is now facing questions as part of a corruption inquiry into this arrangement.</p>



<p>Although he disputes the charges, prosecutors are asking for a sentence of 2.5 years in prison. Previous inquiries over the veracity of Rubiales’s revenues have led him to state: “I don’t know what the judge has said or what Civil Guard has investigated. The money in my bank account is the result of my work and my savings.”</p>



<p>Spanish FA contracts for La Cartuja stadium refurbishment in Seville are also part of the corruption and money laundering probe. It plays home to many international events and will also serve as the venue for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final.</p>



<h2>What did Gerard Pique allegedly do?</h2>



<p>Now it seems that Gerard Pique, a former defender for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a>, is also under investigation by the Spanish authorities. As part of their investigation into the Luis Rubiales corruption case, they are checking his financial accounts.</p>



<p>The probe has now shifted its explicit emphasis to Pique, according to <a href="https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/20240403/1002221089/guardia-civil-investiga-pique-pago-comisiones-rubiales-supercopa.html#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mundo Deportivo</a>. Kosmos, the firm that the ex-player owns, had a role in the 2020 agreement that brought the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/spanish-supercopa-tv-schedule/">Spanish Super Cup</a> to Saudi Arabia.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240404_WST_499352_Gerard-Pique-1200x670_8cfeddb2.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-499391" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Gerard-Pique-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Gerard-Pique-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Gerard-Pique-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Gerard-Pique.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>But there has been no raid on Kosmos premises. Authorities have not arrested any employees or placed anyone under investigation. That’s according to an official from the business. Pique’s firm was most recognized for its association with the Davis Cup. Despite an original 25-year arrangement, the deal lasted from 2018 through 2023.</p>



<p>The report adds that Blaugrana great bribed Luis Rubiales and other federation executives during the negotiations to have the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. The Spanish Civil Guard now maintains that it is imperative to determine whether it’s true.</p>



<h2>Worse fate for Pique than Rubiales?</h2>



<p>Rumor has it that the 37-year-old will emerge from the investigation just as terrible, if not worse, than Luis Rubiales.</p>



<p>“Do not doubt that Pique is going to testify as a person under investigation because Kosmos is accused and Rubiales as well”, Miguel Angel Galan, the lead prosecutor in the inquiry told <a href="https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/20240403/gerard-pique-investigado-rubiales-miguel-galan_300292773.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El Desmarque</a>,</p>



<p>“Pique is going to testify as a safe suspect, because we are talking about&nbsp;$26 million in illegal commissions. There is a devastating report on the general intervention of the state at the request of the Prosecutor’s Office, in which it says that Kosmos was an intermediary of the Spanish National Football Team.</p>



<p>“Therefore, both the RFEF and Pique cannot continue to repeat that the former footballer was an agent of Arabia. Because the RFEF’s contract with Saudi Arabia says that if the commission is not paid to Pique, the contract is broken”.</p>



<p>“Consequently, there is the corruption of the business conditioning the contract for Pique’s commission, with the aggravating circumstance that there was another offer at the same time and another contract from Qatar bigger than this one, where there was no room for commission agents.”</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>

Worse fate than Rubiales? Pique probed for alleged corruption

On Wednesday, Luis Rubiales was taken into custody. New reports suggest he may be taking Pique into this corruption scandal.

<p>One of the soccer fans’ favorite things to debate is how strong one league is compared to another. A club winning La Liga, such as Real Madrid this season, is not the same task as one of the three clubs battling it out in the Premier League. Given the differences in the quality of the opposition and the fact that these are domestic leagues, it is nearly impossible to directly compare leagues.</p>



<p>One way to compare the two is to use Opta’s power rankings. Opta, a British sports analytics firm, assigns an ability score to each team worldwide. On this scale, the top team in the world, Manchester City, has an ability score of 100. By contrast, the worst team in the world has an ability score of zero. Clubs earn points on their <a href="https://theanalyst.com/na/2023/01/power-rankings-your-club-ranked/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elo rating</a> by beating teams ranking higher than them. Consequently, losing to teams with a lower rating deducts more points from a side’s ability score.</p>



<p>It is a vastly technical process that the number wizards at Opta have been practicing for some time. While there will never be a perfect way to analyze clubs and leagues across competitions, this is perhaps the best holistic approach.</p>



<h2>The top 30 men’s soccer leagues in the world</h2>



<p>The following ratings are the average club rating for every team in a domestic league as of April 3, 2024. These numbers constantly change with the world’s leagues in action. With continental competition, for example, these numbers change often.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>RANK</td><td>LEAGUE</td><td>AVERAGE CLUB RATING</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Premier League</td><td>87.59</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>La Liga</td><td>84.8</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Serie A</td><td>84.7</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bundesliga</td><td>84.3</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>83.6</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Primeira Liga</td><td>77.47</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>English Championship</td><td>76.38</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Superligaen</td><td>76.12</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>La Liga 2 (Segunda)</td><td>75.48</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Brasileirao</td><td>75.31</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Liga MX</td><td>75.16</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Russian Premier League</td><td>75.15</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Major League Soccer</td><td>75.1</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Swiss Super League</td><td>74.81</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Eredivisie</td><td>74.79</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Turkish Super Lig</td><td>74.54</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Argentine Primera</td><td>74.53</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>2. Bundesliga</td><td>74.39</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Austrian Bundesliga</td><td>74.21</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>HNL Croatia</td><td>74.03</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>K League</td><td>73.49</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>J League</td><td>73.39</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Eliteserien</td><td>72.99</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Allsvenskan</td><td>72.18</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Cyprus First Division</td><td>72.08</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Saudi Pro League</td><td>72.01</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Czech First League</td><td>71.81</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Greek Super League</td><td>70.76</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>70.25</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Ekstraklasa</td><td>69.41</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>If you need any indication of how fast these rankings can change, look no further than two weeks prior. Again, these rankings apply specifically to April 3, 2024. On March 26, 2024, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-breaks-into-top-10-strongest-leagues-in-the-world/">Major League Soccer cracked the top 10</a>. Now, it is no longer the highest-rated league in North America. Instead, that honor belongs to Liga MX. </p>



<p>Since those rankings from just a few weeks ago, Liga MX sides have had strong results against Major League Soccer in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240403_WST_499198_Club-America-New-England-1200x670_16a60e5c.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-499228" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Averages ranked among the top soccer leagues in the world</h2>



<p>Looking at the above chart, certain teams from those leagues prop up each of those leagues. The Eredivisie is one example. PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord rank in the top 40 clubs in the world. However, those two clubs are dragged down by Vitesse, Excelsior and Volendam. None of those clubs creep into the top 900 clubs in the world. Consequently, the league’s average ranks it as No. 15 in the world. </p>



<p>On the other hand, having a compact league can help the rankings. Major League Soccer shows that, as the highest-ranking team is the Columbus Crew, at No. 145. Twenty-five of MLS’s 29 teams are inside the top 500 clubs in the world That greatly helps the league’s positioning on average.</p>



<p>That said, here are the top clubs from each of those divisions to get a grasp on where they fall. The league rank on the left side is where the average falls. As a result, the best club’s rating will not follow numerical order.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>League Rank</td><td>League</td><td>Best rated club</td><td>Best club’s rating</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Premier League</td><td>Manchester City</td><td>100</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>La Liga</td><td>Real Madrid</td><td>97.5</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Serie A</td><td>Inter Milan</td><td>97.3</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bundesliga</td><td>Bayer Leverkusen</td><td>94</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>PSG</td><td>95.2</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Primeira Liga</td><td>Sporting CP</td><td>89.7</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Championship</td><td>Leeds</td><td>83.6</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Superligaen</td><td>Kobenhavn</td><td>82.6</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Segunda Division</td><td>Eibar</td><td>78.5</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Brasileirao</td><td>Palmeiras</td><td>80.6</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Liga MX</td><td>Club America</td><td>83.1</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Russian Premier League</td><td>Zenit</td><td>82.8</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>MLS</td><td>Columbus Crew</td><td>79.6</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Swiss Super League</td><td>Young Boys</td><td>80.8</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Eredivisie</td><td>PSV Eindhoven</td><td>88.6</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Turkish Super Lig</td><td>Fenerbahce</td><td>86</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Argentine Primera</td><td>River Plate</td><td>80.8</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>2. Bundesliga</td><td>St. Pauli</td><td>80.4</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Austrian Bundesliga</td><td>RB Salzburg</td><td>86.3</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>HNL (Croatia)</td><td>Dinamo Zagreb</td><td>82</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>K League</td><td>Ulsan</td><td>78</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>J League</td><td>Vissel Kobe</td><td>78.4</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Eliteserien</td><td>Bodo/Glimt</td><td>82.6</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Allsvenskan</td><td>Malmo FF</td><td>77.8</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Cyprus First division</td><td>APOEL</td><td>79.7</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Saudi Pro League</td><td>Al Hilal</td><td>86.4</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Czech</td><td>Slavia Praha</td><td>83.7</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Greek Super League</td><td>PAOK</td><td>81.3</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>Rangers</td><td>83.1</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Ekstraklasa</td><td>Rakow Czestochowa</td><td>79.1</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>Looking at the ‘best of the worst’ clubs in each league</h2>



<p>It would also be fair to see the bottom half of these extremes to even out.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>League</td><td>Worst rated club</td><td>Worst club’s rating</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Premier League</td><td>Sheffield United</td><td>79.3</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>La Liga</td><td>Almeria</td><td>76.5</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Serie A</td><td>Salernitana</td><td>76.5</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bundesliga</td><td>Darmstadt 98</td><td>76.6</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>Metz</td><td>76.8</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Primeira Liga</td><td>Portimonense</td><td>70.9</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Championship</td><td>Rotherham United</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Superligaen</td><td>Hvidovre</td><td>69.5</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Segunda Division</td><td>Villarreal II</td><td>71.3</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Brasileirao</td><td>Criciuma</td><td>72.7</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Liga MX</td><td>Juarez</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Russian Premier League</td><td>Sochi</td><td>71.2</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>MLS</td><td>Toronto FC</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Swiss Super League</td><td>Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Eredivisie</td><td>Volendam</td><td>66.5</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Turkish Super Lig</td><td>Istanbulspor</td><td>66.7</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Argentine Primera</td><td>Tigre</td><td>70.1</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>2. Bundesliga</td><td>Hansa Rostock</td><td>70.2</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Austrian Bundesliga</td><td>Austria Lustenau</td><td>67.1</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>HNL (Croatia)</td><td>Rudes</td><td>65.5</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>K League</td><td>Suwon</td><td>68.6</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>J League</td><td>Sagan Tosu</td><td>69.8</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Eliteserien</td><td>Sandefjord</td><td>68.7</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Allsvenskan</td><td>Halmstad</td><td>68.5</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Cyprus First division</td><td>AE Zakakiou</td><td>63.6</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Saudi Pro League</td><td>Al Hazm</td><td>65.7</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Czech</td><td>Ceske Budejovice</td><td>65.4</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Greek Super League</td><td>Kifisia</td><td>63.5</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>Livingston</td><td>62.6</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Ekstraklasa</td><td>Lks Lodz</td><td>67.4</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Opta Sports Analytics - Behind The Scenes And Interviews With The Sports Data Mavens" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ySlAzS8Oouw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>

Top soccer leagues in the world as ranked by Opta

The top soccer leagues in the world are nearly impossible to be ranked accurately. One metric provides insight as to where they stand.

Top soccer leagues in the world as ranked by Opta - World Soccer Talk

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<p>The impending departure of Xavi from Barcelona has several key ramifications. For one, the club is losing an icon because he claims it will release the tension within the club, perhaps attributing the massive pressure of managing <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> to personal struggles. This also means Barcelona will be back in the market for a manager. Whoever replaces Xavi is going to be the fifth permanent Barcelona manager in six seasons. </p>



<p>Rampant managerial change can work for some clubs. Barcelona is not one of those. With the financial constraint on Barcelona, the club needs consistency from its supposed leaders. Moreover, the club is in a peculiar position where it has a dependency on young players. Teenagers like Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Vitor Roque and Gavi can use the experience of a manager like Xavi to further their development. Yet, even without the playing expertise of Xavi, these players need one consistent guide.</p>



<p>Barcelona found a manager who understands the identity of the club, something that disappeared since the departure of Luis Enrique in 2017. It has been far from perfect. Barcelona is not going to win <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">LaLiga</a> this season after shocking performances at home against the likes of Girona, Villarreal and Real Madrid. Yet, there have been flashes of some of the Barcelona style of play that Xavi was brought up on. </p>



<p>Additionally, Barcelona must retain Xavi because of his desire and drive with the club. Previous managers sat on the bench and let the game go on. It became a matter of letting Lionel Messi or one of the elder players be the impetus in guiding the club to success. That changed under Xavi. An emotional leader, Xavi brought back the passion of a club in a stadium like Camp Nou that had turned into a quiet cathedral of soccer. Going back to Pedri’s stunning goal to beat Sevilla in the 2021/22 campaign, Xavi has instilled energy at Barcelona. Take his two dismissals from the touchline as the primary example. As a midfielder, he had one red card in his career. Now, he is readily available to defend his players in any situation. </p>



<h2>Maintaining the development of Barcelona’s young stars</h2>



<p>For better or for worse, Barcelona has been forced into a situation where it <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/la-masia-continues-to-pay-dividends-for-cash-strapped-barcelona-20231023-WST-464128.html">depended on young graduates of La Masia</a>. Consequently, the Catalan club has used the aforementioned teenagers without caution. It falls on the manager to make the call as to put the teenagers in key situations. Few can look at 16-year-old Lamine Yamal or 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi and take issue with them. Xavi is the one that took the risk.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240402_WST_498967_Xavi-development-1200x670_b3937938.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-498984" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Xavi-development-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Xavi-development-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Xavi-development-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Xavi-development.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>Barcelona needed a risk taker as a manager, and that is what they got in Xavi. Even if some of it was a forced hand because of Barcelona’s financial struggles, Xavi recognized the talent that he had at his disposal. At the same time, he understood how to get the most out of each of these players. For example, he isolates Lamine Yamal on the wing to allow him to use his speed and dribbling. In the case of Pau Cubarsi, the defender needs the insurance that a mistake will not cost him or the team. Therefore, Xavi always puts the 17-year-old between Jules Kounde and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/barcelona-willing-to-sell-ronald-araujo-in-summer-for-huge-price/">one of the other center-backs</a>. In doing so, Xavi lets Cubarsi express himself more with his passing ability, which already stands out among the side’s back line.</p>



<p>Xavi’s development of these young players has freed the club from depending on lofty transfer deals on some of the best players in the world. </p>



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<h2>The manager hunt will not be cheap</h2>



<p>Barcelona will struggle to find a manager that is willing to gamble like Xavi. Much of that comes from the fact that no Barcelona supporter could ever dislike Xavi. His playing days in the midfield ensured his legendary status for the club. </p>



<p>Yet, even if Barcelona finds its perfect managerial candidate, it will not come cheap. As of now, there are two likely replacements for Xavi. The first is Brighton and Hove Albion boss Roberto de Zerbi. Then, Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim is also in the mix. Both the Italian and the Portuguese are under contract at their new clubs for the foreseeable future. According to some reports, Amorim would cost Barcelona around <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/barcelona-ruben-amorim-liverpool-manager-32495072" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$16 million</a> if the Spanish side wants to pry the manager away from Sporting. </p>



<p>That would be a painful irony for Barcelona. It would sacrifice its manager, who says leaving the club will help it find its footing for the future. At the same time, it would pay top funds for a manager. In fairness, both Amorim and de Zerbi have proven that they can work a great team without overly spending. Yet, Barcelona should work to retain its manager that will not cost some form of a transfer fee.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

Why Barcelona needs Xavi to stay despite desire to leave the club

To avoid financial restrictions and to promote growth, Barcelona must do whatever it can to convince Xavi to stay on as manager.

<p>Real Madrid made headlines in the early 2000s as it bought major star after major star. David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Luis Figo assembled an all-star team wearing Real Madrid’s famous white kit. Yet, that cast did not have the success that its transfer fees and wages. That relative failure, and the ending of the Cristiano Ronaldo era, forced Real President Florentino Perez into a new era. The adoption of youth and development as a means to success has already paid dividends for Real Madrid, and it will continue to do so for at least one decade.</p>



<p>Most recently, transfer rumors emerged that Real Madrid is <a href="https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2024/04/01/660ae0ccca474183388b4594.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">targeting two teenage talents</a>. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/lille-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Lille</a> center-back Leny Yoro and Franco Mastantuono, a midfielder at River Plate, are at the top of Perez’s transfer goals. These two go far against the Galacticos that Perez would have preferred during his first stint as the club’s president. </p>



<p>This follows the club’s signing of players like Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler and even Jude Bellingham. When these players joined <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a>, they were either teenagers or in their early 20s. For some, that meant unproven gambles from Real Madrid. While Bellingham had shown what he was capable of at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Tchouameni and Camavinga did not have significant experience in major contests. </p>



<p>Now, Real Madrid is reaping the rewards of having those young players. Bringing in more players like that will ensure more success, whether domestically or internationally, over the next generation.</p>



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<h2>Real Madrid youth ensure major trophies without spending</h2>



<p>This season, Real Madrid is nearing a second <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-la-liga-on-us-tv-and-internet/">LaLiga</a> title in the last three seasons. Also, the club is back in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-uefa-champions-league-and-europa-league-on-us-tv-and-internet/">UEFA Champions League</a> quarterfinals for the third straight year. While players like Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo carried the side to success in the 2010s, Real Madrid quickly realized that this was not a sustainable practice. Spending loads of cash on players that may not pan out directly with Real Madrid led to harsh criticisms. </p>



<p>That is what happened in <a href="https://tenlegend.com/blogs/news/the-galacticos">the early 2000s</a>. Real Madrid won La Liga in the first year of the Galacticos era before triumphing in the UEFA Champions League in the 2000/01 campaign. Yet, a barren spell from the 2002/03 season to 2005/06 yielded just one trophy. Granted, Real Madrid finished second in La Liga twice and was the runner-up in the 2003/04 Copa del Rey. Given the talent in the squad, particularly leading the line, this was a massive disappointment.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240402_WST_498881_Camavinga-Bellingham-Vini-1200x670_cad45d7a.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-498927" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Camavinga-Bellingham-Vini-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Camavinga-Bellingham-Vini-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Camavinga-Bellingham-Vini-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Camavinga-Bellingham-Vini.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>Bringing in younger players serves multiple benefits to Real Madrid. On one hand, it is cheaper. That does not mean Real Madrid is getting players at bargain prices. It spent $110 million on Bellingham and a further $86 million on Tchouameni. But it did save, relatively speaking, on other players. Camavinga was just $33 million. Guler cost $21 million. Brahim Diaz fetched a fee of $18 million as a teenager five years ago. Even Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo each cost less than $50 million as teenagers. They finished their youth development in the Real Madrid system before starring for Los Blancos. </p>



<h2>Kylian Mbappe combines Galacticos with developed players</h2>



<p>The other benefit comes from development and experience. Each of those players is under the age of 25. That gives Real Madrid multiple opportunities and ways to capitalize on success. In the short term, each of these players has proven that they are among the world’s best in their position. Real Madrid remains one of the most formidable teams in the world. The upcoming tie against Manchester City is a battle between perhaps the two best teams in Europe. That was the biggest game of the young careers of several Real Madrid players. With the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fan-favorite-bellingham-makes-committment-to-madrid-future-20231018-WST-462987.html">addition of Bellingham</a> to go along with that experience, Real Madrid is perhaps even more formidable. </p>



<p>When you consider how successful Real Madrid’s talents are already, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/real-madrid-is-only-club-that-can-control-kylian-mbappe-stardom/">tacking on someone like Kylian Mbappe</a> sets the club apart. By many accounts, Kylian Mbappe is the best soccer player in the world. Despite the impending log jam of players up front, Carlo Ancelotti will have options to score goals with ease. Vinicius and Rodrygo have developed into truly world-class players, and Jude Bellingham sitting just behind them makes for an elite front three.</p>



<p>Kylian Mbappe would be the jewel in a front-four diamond that seemingly no defense would be able to stop. That is what having players develop allows the club to do. </p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

Real Madrid's investment in youth works better than Galacticos

Transitioning from Galacticos to the youth is paving the way for an extended period of success at Real Madrid.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "La Liga" - Page 23

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