Barcelona officially respond to Jose Mourinho rumours as major hint dropped over Xavi replacement

Barcelona have provided an official response as to whether Jose Mourinho is in the frame to be their next manager.

The Catalan club are on the hunt for a new coach to take charge in the summer after Xavi Hernandez asked he would be stepping down from the post.

Mourinho was sacked by Roma after two-and-a-half years in the job last month and has been linked with a number of vacancies.

There are rumours that the former Real Madrid boss could succeed Xavi in the Nou Camp hotseat, with Mourinho even asked about the airport.

Barcelona's sporting director Deco, who is leading the search for a new manager, won the Champions League under Mourinho at Porto.

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But the former Chelsea and Blaugrana star claims the two have not been in conversation and hinted that Mourinho would not be the right fit for the club.

"He is a great friend of mine but I haven’t talked with him in a long time," he told Esport3, via Metro.

"We’re looking for a manager who can adapt to the club’s situation and that can keep developing the young players we have."

Mourinho worked for Barcelona when Louis van Gaal was at the helm and he was a contender for when Frank Rijkaard was sacked.

However, Barca did not feel like his way of playing matched their philosophy and so appointed Pep Guardiola instead.

Image: Getty

Barca were Mourinho's rivals when he was at Real, where he won La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

Mourinho has been linked with a switch to the Saudi Pro League, as well as Napoli.

He left Roma on bad terms and is reported to have left his UEFA Conference League ring in the locker of captain Lorenzo Pellegrini in the dressing room as a parting dig at the players he managed.

Il Messaggero also claim there was a brutal note, which read: "When you are men, give it back to me".