Julian Nagelsmann is contractually bound to the DFB as coach of the German national team until mid-July. What will happen next for the ex-Bayern coach is not yet clear. A giant of European football apparently wants to use this for their own benefit.
In the top floor of European club football, two coaching doors have opened completely surprisingly and unexpectedly in the last few days: one at Liverpool FC, the other at FC Barcelona.
The search for a successor to Jürgen Klopp and Xavi has already begun at both clubs. Julian Nagelsmann is said to play a big role in this, as Barca boss Joan Laporta has reportedly already contacted the German national coach.
Talks between Nagelsmann and Barcelona are ongoing
As the online newspaper “El Nacional” reported on Friday, immediately after Xavi’s announced withdrawal at the end of the season, FC Barcelona called Julian Nagelsmann to talk about working together from the 2024/25 season. Talks between the parties have been ongoing since then.
The driving force here is said to be Laporta, who, according to the report, has had Nagelsmann on his wish list for a long time. It is said that the ex-Bayern coach is considered the “ideal candidate”. The Barca boss is said to have tried to find the 36-year-old as early as 2021, when he was still under contract with RB Leipzig. However, FC Bayern snatched the trainer away from the Spanish top club’s noses.
Barca waves through Nagelsmann’s later entry
In the summer of 2024, the hurdle for a commitment would be significantly lower, because Nagelsmann’s contract with the DFB only runs until the end of the home European Championship. He can then freely choose his next employer.
The only catch: If he were to make a commitment to Barca, he would probably only join the team after the start of summer preparation. According to “El Nacional”, the Barca bosses are prepared to accept Nagelsmann’s later entry.