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Xavi has been offered the Al-Ittihad job in Saudi Arabia, which could take him out of the running for the Manchester United manager position if Ruben Amorim leaves.
Xavi Hernández is back in the spotlight as he considers a return to coaching. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the former Barcelona coach has received a concrete approach from Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, who are urgently seeking a new manager.
The wealthy Saudi club is searching for a replacement after Laurent Blanc was sacked just four games into the season, following the team’s first defeat. Alongside Xavi, Al-Ittihad are also in talks with Luciano Spalletti and Sérgio Conceição as part of their shortlist.
Xavi has been out of work since leaving Barcelona in May 2024. During this period, the 44-year-old has been frequently mentioned by English media as a potential successor to Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, whose future at Old Trafford has become increasingly uncertain after a poor start to the season.
The Catalan previously coached Al Sadd in Qatar, meaning a move to Saudi Arabia would not be unfamiliar territory. Should he accept the Al-Ittihad offer, it would effectively close the door on any potential move to Manchester United — at least in the short term.
United have been linked with several names in case Amorim’s tenure ends, and Xavi was viewed as one of the more high-profile, media-backed options. His decision could therefore influence the direction of United’s managerial search.