Barcelona legend 'open' to replacing Ruben Amorim but top manager rejects Man Utd

Manchester United are searching for Ruben Amorim’s replacement (Picture: Getty)

Barcelona legend Xavi is ‘very open’ to an approach from Manchester United about replacing Ruben Amorim .

United are expected to confirm Amorim’s long-term replacement in the summer after a caretaker boss sees the club through until the end of the season .

Old Trafford bosses sacked Amorim on Monday morning after a series of underwhelming performances on the pitch and growing tensions off it.

At the time of Amorim’s dismissal, Manchester United were sixth in the Premier League , three points outside the Champions League places.

That represents a significant improvement from a team who slumped to a 15th-place finish last season but still a long way below the expected standards from one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Ex-United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been placed in interim charge of the side and was in the dugout for Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Burnley .

Speaking after the Turf Moor stalemate, Fletcher confirmed he would also be in charge for Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Brighton while the United hierarchy decide on a caretaker manager.

Amorim lost his job at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

Fletcher himself is in contention for that short-term role alongside fellow Manchester United legends Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick .

Amorim’s permanent replacement will be appointed in the summer, with Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and England’s Thomas Tuchel two of the frontrunners for the role .

Former Barcelona player and manager Xavi has also been linked with the Red Devils and Fabrizio Romano claims he is ‘very open’ to an approach.

Barcelona legend and former manager Xavi (Picture: Getty)

One of the best players of his generation, Xavi won eight La Liga titles at the Nou Camp and four Champions Leagues.

Xavi also lifted the Spanish league trophy during his three-year spell as Barcelona manager, which ended in May 2024 .

The 45-year-old is said to be ready to return to management following almost two years out of the game and would ‘love’ a Premier League job.

Simone Inzaghi joined the Saudi Pro League last summer (Picture: Getty)

@metrosportuk Did Sir Jim Ratcliffe sack Amorim too early? 🤷‍♂️ When clubs have been patient with their managers, they’ve been rewarded, just like Man City with Pep Guardiola, and Arsenal with Mikel Arteta. But they seem to be the only clubs that allow time to improve, and it seems Manchester United did not give enough to Ruben Amorim. #manchesterunited #amorim #mikelarteta #pepguardiola #premierleague ♬ original sound – Metro Sport – Metro Sport

Romano says Xavi is ‘ready’ for a new challenge and is ‘very open’ to talking to Manchester United, the club he beat in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League final.

It is easy to see why the chance to manage United, despite their difficulties over the last decade, would be an attractive proposition but not everyone is open to the switch.

According to Tuttosport , Simone Inzaghi has already rejected an approach to take over the club in the summer.

Inzaghi, 49, spent five years in charge of Lazio before establishing himself as one of Europe’s top bosses at Inter Milan.

Under Inzaghi, Inter won the Serie A title in 2024 and reached two Champions League finals, losing to Manchester City and then Paris Saint-Germain .

Al-Hilal poached Inzaghi from Inter last summer and the former Italy striker is settled in Saudi Arabia, no doubt helped by his lucrative salary.

The first game for United’s caretaker manager could be the Manchester derby, with City visiting Old Trafford a week on Saturday.