Hi all.
Joan Laporta has laid the groundwork to make an official approach for Rafa Benítez as he does not want José Mourinho at Barcelona should Frank Rijkaard leave in the summer.
The Blaugrana supremo is believed to want to be prepared should the club's current coach opt not to continue next term after another difficult campaign in charge at Camp Nou.
While several names have already been throw in into the hat, El Mundo Deportivo believe that they have it on good authority that Benítez is Laporta' first choice.
Barça's board has been split over talk about a possible successor to Rijkaard with directors Ferran Soriano and Marc Ingla preferring Mourinho, while others see that as completely out of the question.
Laporta is one of those that does not want to see the Portuguese trainer return to the club where he once worked as a translator for Bobby Robson.
Moves have been made to discover if the current Liverpool boss would have any interest should the position be offered to him with the report suggesting that FIFA agent, Manuel García Quilón, being approached to find out.
Quilón told the club that Benítez is not considered to be unmovable by the Anfield club, but that he would not agree to any deal while Rijkaard was still in place.
Johan Cruyff's opposition to Mourinho is strong and his influence over the board should be enough to see that the former Chelsea coach has no chance of taking over at the club.
Kind Regards
26th March 2008, 07:28 PM
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