Barcelona Legend Xavi Would Be ‘Tempted’ by Manchester United Project if Ruben Amorim Is Removed, Says Gaizka Mendieta

Contenders to Replace Amorim: Change Mooted at Old Trafford

There is no official vacancy at Old Trafford just yet, but the whispers grow louder by the week. Ruben Amorim’s reign as Manchester United boss has yet to hit the 50-game mark, but already the Portuguese tactician looks like a man under pressure. His record-breaking stint at Sporting Lisbon, which earned him the United job, has not yet translated into the same level of success in England.

The Premier League’s most demanding post has chewed up and spat out a host of respected managers in the last decade, and Amorim knows he is working on borrowed time if results do not improve. United’s recent form has led to feverish speculation about who could take charge should the axe fall.

Among the names linked is former England boss Gareth Southgate, still out of work after stepping down following Euro 2024. Southgate’s calm persona and experience of handling pressure make him a logical option. Others, meanwhile, point towards the possibility of a short-term club icon such as Michael Carrick or Roy Keane stepping into the breach to steady the ship.

And then there’s the wildcard: Xavi Hernández, the Barcelona legend who could be tempted by the right project, and who has already proven he can rebuild and win under difficult circumstances.

Why Xavi Would Be Interested in the Man Utd Job

Ruben Amorim Manchester United

Gaizka Mendieta, who knows a thing or two about the pressures of top-level football, believes that Xavi would seriously consider the Manchester United role if it were put on the table. Speaking to OLBG, Mendieta explained:

“I think if it’s the right project, he will be tempted. Who doesn’t want to coach in the Premier League? Who would not want to coach Manchester United, even if it’s in a difficult time?”

For Mendieta, the reasoning is clear. Xavi arrived at Barcelona in 2021 with scepticism surrounding him — he had only coached in Qatar with Al Sadd. Critics doubted whether he was ready for Europe’s elite stage. Yet within two years, he delivered a La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup, stabilising the club during one of its most tumultuous financial and political crises.

“He won trophies at Barca during a very peculiar period of history of the club,” Mendieta continued, “and he changed that. Of course, he doesn’t know Manchester United as he knows Barca, but he’s been there, he knows that, he’s capable of doing those things. So if the project seems right to him, I’m sure he will take it.”

The keyword here is project. Xavi has rejected multiple opportunities since leaving Barcelona in 2024, waiting for the right structure, the right vision, and the right commitment from those above him. If United, with their endless resources and global reach, can convince him of a long-term rebuild, the temptation could be too great to resist.

Xavi’s Readiness: Modern Coaching and Adaptability

Football has changed. Mendieta stresses that the modern coach has access to endless information, data platforms, and analytical tools that shorten adaptation periods.

“A lot of people were hesitant in his move to Barca because he had only been in Qatar. People thought he wasn’t ready, then he won the league and the Super Cup in his first season. I think football has changed a lot. The coaches and players tend to adapt. It’s at an incredibly high level and it’s a lot faster because people are more prepared.”

In other words, the old barriers that once made moving between leagues daunting no longer apply. Xavi may not have the Premier League experience of, say, Thomas Tuchel or Pep Guardiola, but his methods, grounded in the possession-heavy style that defined his playing career, are transferrable.

Ballon d’Or Hopeful: Rashford Given Huge Billing

Marcus Rashford Barcelona 2025-26

If Xavi were to land in Manchester, one of his first considerations might be what to do with Marcus Rashford. Currently thriving on loan at Barcelona, Rashford has rediscovered some of his old spark. The deal includes an option to buy, but his future is still technically tied to Old Trafford.

Mendieta believes Rashford remains a player capable of operating at the very highest level:

“When we are speaking about ability, Marcus Rashford does have what it takes to win the Ballon d’Or. On paper, Rashford is a great signing for Barca. Obviously we know the talent that he has, the potential that he has, the things that he is able to do.”

At 27, Rashford is no longer a rising star — he is a player expected to deliver consistently. So far, his numbers in Catalonia suggest he is on the right track: two goals and five assists in the early months of the season. Just as importantly, Mendieta argues, Rashford has adapted to life at Barcelona both on and off the pitch, settling into the city, embracing his role, and contributing to set pieces as well as open play.

Rashford’s Challenge: Consistency and Timing

The big question mark, Mendieta warns, is consistency. Talent has never been in doubt, but turning ability into week-in, week-out performances is the hallmark of Ballon d’Or winners.

“Rashford could be better or could be as good as anyone,” Mendieta explained. “Now it’s about being in a different stage of his career with a different club and he’s started very well, but the season is young. There are many games, many things to be decided. The second part of the season is the most important when it comes to winning trophies.”

If Barcelona win silverware and Rashford plays a central role, there is no reason why his name cannot enter the shortlist for football’s most prestigious individual honour.

England Squad: Rashford Hoping to Make Tuchel’s Selection

Rashford’s resurgence at club level could soon be rewarded internationally. With Thomas Tuchel now at the helm of England, the Three Lions are preparing for a friendly against Wales and a World Cup qualifier against Latvia. Rashford’s form makes him a strong candidate to return to the fold.

His numbers — two goals and five assists already — show his impact. But more than that, it is his confidence and body language that suggest a player rejuvenated. For United fans, watching him succeed at Barcelona is bittersweet. If Xavi were to arrive in Manchester, one of his biggest calls would be whether to bring Rashford back into the fold or let him continue building his new life in Spain.

Conclusion: Xavi, United, and the Temptation of a New Era

The storylines intertwine: a legendary Barcelona midfielder linked with a managerial post at Old Trafford; a United academy graduate excelling in Catalonia and tipped for Ballon d’Or contention. Both narratives circle back to one question: what does the future hold for Manchester United?

If Ruben Amorim cannot turn things around, the club will be forced into yet another reset. For Mendieta, the appeal of Xavi is obvious — a proven builder, a man of vision, and a coach hungry for the right project. For Rashford, the coming months may decide whether he is remembered as a gifted winger who never fulfilled his potential, or as one of the finest English players of his generation.

Manchester United has always thrived on bold decisions. Bringing in Xavi could be the boldest of all. And if the stars align, it might even reunite him with Rashford, the man some believe could light up world football once more.