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FC Barcelona has identified Cesc Fàbregas, currently managing Como 1907 in Serie A, as the preferred long-term successor to head coach Hansi Flick when his contract runs its course in 2028.
Representatives from the club have already opened discussions with Fàbregas to gauge his interest in eventually taking over at Camp Nou.
The succession blueprint
Flick’s contract with Barcelona runs through June 30, 2028, with an optional additional year built in. The initiative involves president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, who have been engaged in conversations about what comes next once the Flick era eventually concludes.
Fàbregas is a product of La Masia, the club’s legendary youth academy, and understands the club’s DNA having been shaped by its philosophy during his formative years before moving to Arsenal as a teenager.
Fàbregas reportedly has a release clause in his contract with Como 1907, which simplifies the logistics of any eventual move. Barcelona would not need to engage in protracted negotiations with an Italian club reluctant to let their coach go.
Why Fàbregas, and why now
By identifying a successor two full years before the current coach’s contract expires, Barcelona is attempting to break with its historical pattern of messy managerial transitions. The post-Pep Guardiola era saw a revolving door of coaches: Tito Vilanova, Gerardo Martino, Luis Enrique, Ernesto Valverde, Quique Setién, Ronald Koeman, Xavi, and now Flick.
Fàbregas has been building his managerial credentials in Italy with Como 1907. His coaching philosophy, shaped by years playing under Guardiola at Barcelona and Arsène Wenger at Arsenal, aligns with the possession-based style Barcelona expects from its teams.
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