Ronald Koeman is on the hot seat in Barcelona. The Blaugrana have gotten off to a so-so start in the post-Lionel Messi era. They have won twice thus far, against Real Sociedad and Getafe at home, and drawn away with Athletic and Granada, equalizing in the final minutes.
According to Spanish journalist Gerard Moreno, the relationship between Barcelona and Koeman has deteriorated. President Joan Laporta is actively looking for a replacement, and Andrea Pirlo is on his shortlist. Club legend Xavi is also on the running, El Chiringuito TV reports.
Pirlo is still under contract with Juventus as he originally penned a two-year deal. The Bianconeri did not retain him after a subpar season. He sneaked into the top four in the final matchday only thanks to a slip-up by Napoli. The Old Lady was coming off nine titles in a row. Despite the struggles in Serie A, he took home two trophies, the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa. The former midfielder was making his debut on the bench. The management initially hired him to lead the U-23 team, but they quickly elevated him after parting ways with Maurizio Sarri.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Pirlo stated that he follows the strategy of former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola: “It is tough to win if you do not command the game. He has proven it over the years. I would rather lose having 90 percent possession and conceding on a single shot than parking the bus and hoping to score on counters.”