Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font says he speaks to Xavi more than his wife

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has admitted that he speaks to Xavi 'more than his wife' as the race to succeed Josep Maria Bartomeu hots up.

Font is one of four men still in the running for the Barcelona presidency after the quartet each collected the required 2,250 signatures of support. The election takes place on 24 January.

Font has named Xavi at the forefront of his plans should he be elected, previously claiming that the former Barcelona midfielder would take over from Ronald Koeman as manager. However, he has since adjusted these plans, with Xavi initially drafted in as 'general manager'.

"I talk more with Xavi than with my wife these days," Font told Mundo Deportivo. "We talk about many things. Yesterday I gave him the photo of the delivery of signatures, in which I was carrying the box with the number six. He does ask about how the campaign is going, but also about other issues."

The presidential candidate added that Xavi's relationship with his former teammate Lionel Messi could be crucial in persuading the Argentinian to remain at Camp Nou.

"Messi has explained it, he ideally wants to stay here and finish his sports career at Barca," Font said. "Before the summer, when the great frustration, was what he had always said and had commented that the most important condition for him is to have a winning and competitive project.

"We have a winning, competitive project, with people like Xavi, in which once again, the trust and credibility of the different assets in a project is fundamental.

"This credibility and this relationship between Xavi and Messi exists, that's why I believe which is one of the main reasons and guarantees that Messi will feel very comfortable with our project and we will have many options to continue."