Barcelona players are all in agreement on who they want to replace Xavi

Barcelona players are all in agreement regarding who they want to replace Xavi Hernandez as the club’s manager, it has been claimed.

Speaking on Saturday after a 5-3 defeat to Villarreal, Xavi announced he will step down as Barcelona head coach at the end of the season.

The result leaves the club 10 points adrift of Real Madrid and 11 points off Catalan rivals and league leaders Girona.

"I want to announce that on June 30 I will no longer continue as the coach at Barca," Xavi said.

"I think the situation needs to change course, and as a culer [Barcelona fan], I cannot allow the current situation.

"And mostly as a cul, thinking about the club and about the players as well, I think they will feel more free, they will be calmer. I think we play with too much tension. It's for the benefit of the board, of the club. As a cul, as a club person, I believe the best thing is to leave on June 30. Of course, I will give all I have in the four months that are left.

"To explain a bit better, the feeling of being Barca coach is unpleasant, it's cruel. You feel that often there is a lack of respect, you feel they do not value your work, and this wears you down terribly.

"It affects your mental health. I am a positive person but the energy goes down to a point where you think that there is no sense."

According to reports in Spain, the Barcelona squad already have a preferred choice to replace Xavi in the Barcelona dugout.

Diario Sport claims Luis Enrique is the players’ favourite to become the next Barcelona manager.

The Paris Saint-Germain boss is said to be viewed as the “ideal figure” to coach the club from next season, with many of the squad having worked with him before.

The likes of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Sergi Roberto were part of Enrique’s squad in his previous stint at Barca, where he won the treble in his first season in charge.