Xavi risks uncomfortable reunion with one Man United star if he succeeds Erik ten Hag as quotes resurface – after former Barca boss held talks with Red Devils

Xavi could be facing an awkward reunion with one Manchester United star if he takes the hot seat at Old Trafford after some critical comments he made years ago. 

Mail Sport revealed that the intermediaries have made contact with the former Barcelona star and manager twice in recent months.

It comes with Erik ten Hag‘s position being under constant scrutiny but he steered United to a much-needed 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday. 

Xavi led Barcelona to the LaLiga title in 2022-23 but that will come as little reassurance to Casemiro, who was once on the receiving end of some criticism from the Spaniard in 2018. 

‘Madrid break apart, seven players attack and Casemiro stays back on his own to cover the centre. [Barca midfielder Sergio] Busquets cannot do that as even I am faster than he is. Casemiro is super fast, but he has trouble with everything else as he has not worked on it,’ Xavi told El Pais. 

In 2018 he suggested that Casemiro had ‘trouble’ with most things other than pace and that he would not fit his style of play 

Casemiro admitted he ‘can’t play the football Xavi wants’ but was fine with his Madrid success

‘He has other characteristics, is more defensive, makes more tackles, covers more ground, but he does not dominate space-time. 

‘If you had started with Casemiro aged 12, 13, 15, then he would have that.’

The notion that the Brazilian had ‘trouble’ with every attribute besides speed is concerning considering he is now 32 and not as fast as he once was.

Of course, Xavi will respect the quality that Casemiro has – he’s a five-time Champions League winner, after all – but he also said: ‘He’s a good player for Real Madrid, I think he’s a player with Madrid’s DNA, but he is not for Barcelona.’ 

If Xavi were to try and implement the style that he is used to with Barcelona at United, it could therefore follow that he would deem Casemiro outside of his plans.

Casemiro hit back against the original comments: ‘Everyone says what they want, but I’ve been here four years, and heading into my fourth Champions League final. I couldn’t sign for Barca, as I can’t play football the way Xavi wants. I am with Madrid until death.

‘As Xavi said, I do not understand football and I can not play for. I do not have Barcelona football.’

A four-man delegation led by chief executive Omar Berrada flew out to Barcelona last Thursday, fuelling rumours that Xavi could be a contender for the United job. 

Xavi Hernandez (right) has been earmarked as a contender to be Man United head coach

United’s Omar Berrada led a four-man delegation to Barcelona amid previous contact with the former Barca manager

The hierarchy are sticking with Erik ten Hag for now but his grip on the role has been shaky

However, United sources say that a number of high-level meetings have taken place in the Catalan capital recently because co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been there to support Ineos Britannia sailing team in their battle with New Zealand for the America’s Cup.

Ten Hag’s assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy would be an obvious short-term replacement – and Xavi has also made it clear that he doesn’t want to coach in Spain again. 

United sources maintain that Ten Hag remains their manager and the club have no plans to make a change as he prepares to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday.

United declined to comment on Tuesday, saying they refuse to engage in speculation over the manager’s future.

The Dutchman has endured a difficult start to the season after keeping his job in the summer during a summit meeting with Ineos executives in Ibiza after United’s minority owners spoke to a number of potential replacements around the FA Cup final.

With Thomas Tuchel signing a contract to become the next England boss on October 8, two days before Gareth Southgate ruled himself out of a return to the dugout for another year, the field would be even narrower if United axe Ten Hag now.

Besides Xavi, Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim and ex-Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic could come into contention, although the former is being widely tipped to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.