Both Roberto De Zerbi and Thiago Motta have been linked with replacing Xavi at Barcelona next season, but the Bologna boss would be cheaper than RDZ, given that his contract runs out in the summer.
Xavi has announced that he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season and Italian coaches De Zerbi and Thiago Motta are believed to be among the candidates to replace the Spanish legend on Barcelona’s bench in 2024-25.
Motta has also been linked with the Mian job, and his contract situation at Bologna makes him an exciting option for all clubs interested, given that his current deal at the Stadio Dall’Ara expires at the end of the season.
Contract extension talks between Motta and Bologna are stalling, but director Marco Di Vaio said in his latest interview with Gazzetta dello Sport that the Rossoblu will have ‘more chances’ to extend with the ex-Italy international if they earn a European placement this season.
De Zerbi, on the other hand, has a contract until June 2026 with Brighton and although negotiations over a new deal have not started yet, the ex-Sassuolo coach has a €13m clause valid in the summer, as revealed by Fabrizio Romano last year, so the 44-year-old would surely be more expensive than Motta.