Jurgen Klopp next decision clear as Xavi 'U-turns and decides to stay at Barcelona'

Jurgen Klopp could decide to call time on his career in management once and for all when he leaves Liverpool at the end of the season. The 56-year-old had been tipped to take over from Barcelona boss Xavi after the Spaniard announced that he would be quitting the Nou Camp in the summer. But the former midfielder has now reportedly performed a U-turn and has decided to remain in Catalonia.

Klopp is worshipped by the red half of Merseyside and led Liverpool to their first ever Premier League title in 2020 after guiding the team to Champions League glory a year earlier. He has also lifted the Club World Cup, FA Cup and Carabao Cup since taking the top job in 2015.

But the German announced his decision to end his Anfield tenure in January, saying he was “running out of energy.” Little over 24 hours after Klopp’s announcement, Xavi explained that he, too, would be leaving his role after Barcelona had conceded three late goals during a 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal.

Spanish outlet Sport then reported that Barcelona president Joan Laporta had always considered Klopp as a ‘dream’ candidate to manage the Spanish giants. But on Wednesday evening Laporta met with Xavi, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, with the 2010 World Cup winner accepting conditions and agreeing to stay in his current role beyond the summer.

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Klopp transformed Liverpool into one of the best ever teams of the Premier League era after taking charge at Anfield and his record with the club speaks for itself. He is likely to be a man in demand come the summer and won’t be short of options if he does decide to take on another role on the touchline.

Another job that may have appealed to Klopp is the role of Germany boss, which would be less intense away from the major tournaments. But the four-time World Cup winners extended the contract of Julian Nagelsmann last week, which means the ex-Bayern Munich manager will remain in his position until the summer of 2026.

There may be other opportunities that could tempt Klopp into work once again. But after nine gruelling years on Merseyside and the success that has come with it, the German could decide he’s had enough.

“I cannot just sit around. I will find something else maybe to do, but I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year. That’s not possible – I cannot do that and I don’t want to,” Klopp explained earlier this year.

“That’s all. It’s such a strange situation because I have to explain that I don’t have energy anymore, but now I’m sitting here and I have energy and I’m buzzing for everything that’s happening here. But because of the relationship we have, I have to think about this. Because nobody will sack me, I have to make this decision by myself.”