Why Xavi said 'no' to Man Utd as details of the Spaniard's contract offer emerged

Manchester United also considered other candidates before finally appointing Ruben Amorim as head coach, with Xavi Hernandez considered as a temporary option until the end of the season, according to the Independent.

However, the former Barcelona coach wasn't open to it as he didn't like managing the Red Devils for just six months until they got their preferred candidate.

The Spaniard simply said “no” to Man United and will look forward to another chance elsewhere.

Xavi has been unemployed since leaving Barca at the end of last season and his successes with the La Liga club pleased Man United's decision-makers.

The 44-year-old won the 2022/23 La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup with his old club and Jamie Carragher backed him for the Red Devils job.

However, Man United had decided that Amorim fit most of their parameters better than any other candidate and they eventually managed to convince him to join them now that he had expressed the idea of ​​a move to wait until the end of the season.

He will officially join on November 11th and will be in the dugout on November 24th when they face Ipswich Town.

While Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly liked the idea of ​​appointing a homegrown manager, or at least one with Premier League experience like Fulham manager Marco Silva, members of the club's management committee (sporting director Dan Ashworth, CEO Omar Berrada and Ineos) (sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford) opted for the 39-year-old instead.

When looking for a permanent successor to Erik ten Hag they decided to cast their net wider and time will tell if they made the right decision as there has been no manager since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson stayed at the Old Trafford club for a third year in 2013.