The Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) search for a new Super Eagles coach is set to hit a snag, with Barcelona currently courting one of the leading candidates for the job.
Nigeria have been without a substantive head coach following the exit of Jose Peseiro, who led the Super Eagles to a runners-up finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) in Ivory Coast.
The NFF subsequently advertised the vacant role in March, encouraging interested coaches to apply for the job. However, the Federation appointed Finidi George as a caretaker manager for last month’s international friendlies against Ghana and Mali.
Recent reports suggest the NFF has narrowed down its list of applicants to a final shortlist, which is said to include ex-Nigeria international Emmanuel Amuneke, Spanish tactician Domenec Torrent and Portuguese manager Toni Conceicao.
Torrent, who has previously managed New York City, Flamengo and Galatasaray, could however, be ruled out of the race in light of strong interest from La Liga giants Barcelona.
Barcelona want to make Domenec Torrent Xavi’s assistant
Barcelona were resigned to losing manager Xavi after the former midfielder announced that he’ll be stepping down from his post at the end of the current season. Xavi’s shocking announcement came in January, forcing the club into the search for a new manager.
However, Xavi held talks with Barcelona’s hierarchy on Wednesday, after which he rescinded his decision and decided to stay and honour the remainder of his contract until June 2025.
“Xavi wants to develop his project that is being forged with the young people who are coming up. I am very happy about its continuity. Deco trusts Xavi 100%. This season I am left with the enthusiasm that we have awakened in the culer fans,” Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste said afterwards, as quoted by Barca Blaugranes.
“Losing must have consequences, yes, but with nuances. We have competed and the game has been improved. With Xavi there is friendship and we are culers. We want to make history again, and we will. This project continues, above all, with people from home.”
Barca Universal, however, reports that the agreement to stay on comes with some conditions from sporting director Deco, who wants Xavi to remove his brother, Oscar Hernandez, as the assistant manager. The report suggests Deco wants Torrent to work with Xavi as Barcelona’s assistant coach for next season. Torrent previously worked with Pep Guardiola when he managed the Spanish giants and was the latter’s number 2 during his spells at Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Barcelona approach could complicate Super Eagles' hopes of landing Torrent
It remains to be seen whether Xavi would be willing to fire his brother and work instead with Torrent, who remains on the radar of the NFF for the vacant Super Eagles coaching role. The 61-year-old also has a big decision to make over whether to return to being an assistant or continue carving his own path as a head coach.
Torrent won so much as Guardiola’s deputy but hasn’t achieved much success since becoming his own man. He spent just a year at New York City in the Major League Soccer (MLS), and was in charge of Brazilian side Flamengo for just three months before being sacked.
Torrent later joined the Turkish club Galatasaray in January 2022 but was again relieved of his post after six months and has been without a job for the last one-and-a-half years. Until now, he was only focused on becoming the next Nigeria head coach but Barcelona’s approach, although dependent on Xavi’s approval, could turn his head.
Should the former Girona boss decide to return to Barcelona in the capacity of an assistant, then the NFF would have to quickly move on to other alternatives, especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers coming up in June.
