Barcelona Presidential Candidate Claims He'll Replace Ronald Koeman Regardless of Success

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has claimed that Ronald Koeman will not be in charge for the 2021/22 season if he is elected, instead preferring to hand the reins to Xavi Hernandez.

Following Barça's thumping 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals recently, the club opted to part ways with Quique Setien as well as sporting director Eric Abidal, with Koeman and Ramon Planes taking over the two key roles.

However, with presidential elections set for next spring, Barça could be set for more upheaveal.

Candidate Font has now publicly voiced his opinion with regards to Koeman leading the team forward and claimed that even if the Dutchman has a 'great' season, this won't stop him from replacing the Dutchman with his preferred choice: Xavi.

"Even if Koeman has a great season, I will not change my plans. If I become president, Koeman will not be the coach of Barça in the 2021/22 season," Font told Spanish radio programme El Larguero.

"Xavi understands that all the puzzles in the club must be put together. Who will lead the team will be decided by the Board of Directors, in our case it will be him [Xavi].

Font was also keen to allude to the current situation regarding Lionel Messi, with reports suggesting he could force a move away from Camp Nou due to the growing unrest at the club. Bartomeu has since insisted that the Argentine won't be going anywhere anytime soon and this was reaffirmed by Font.

But, of course, he was also quick to take another swipe at the current board of directors and the way the club is currently being run, adding that Messi is far from pleased at this moment in time.

Font continued: "[Lionel] Messi is completely disappointed because of the critical situation at the club both in sports, and in economic and organisational terms. I expect that Messi will play under Xavi in 2021."

Font's remarks highlight the major problems that currently exist at Barcelona. Koeman hasn't even officially signed for the club yet, but this hasn't stopped a presidential candidate from boldly and bluntly stating that he will not be in charge if he wins the election.

Bartomeu has been in the top job since 2014, but has been coming under increasing pressure for some time now. Despite this, however, the club recently confirmed that the presidential elections will not be moved forward, instead they will go ahead in March 2021.