By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Barcelona has initiated talks with coach Xavi Pascual, expressing their interest to bring him back to the team, according to Mundo Deportivo. Pascual has become a free agent after the completionof his contract with Zenit St. Petersburg and will be looking to return to the EuroLeague.
Other candidates considered for the head coach position at Barcelona and the one who’ll replace Roger Grimau are Jaka Lakovic, Sergio Scariolo and Joan Penarroya. It’s Pascual though who is the club’s top priority.
As Mundo Deportivo reports, a main obstacle in Pascual’s potential return to Barca has to do with his salary. The Spanish coach requires a fee of 2 million euros (net) while the Blaugrana will be undergoing some financial restrictions.
Pascual is said to be willing to sign for less money that he’d otherwise require so that an agreement between the two sides could be reached. If he’s back then Barca president Joan Laporta may decide to raise the basketball department’s budget bit for the upcoming season.
Barcelona was Pascual’s first team as head coach. He was promoted to the position in 2008 and kept the post until 2016, winning several titles with the Blaugrana, including the 2010 EuroLeague championship.
Pascual moved to Panathinaikos in 2016 and stayed there for two years. In 2020 he became coach of Zenit, spending his next four seasons with the Russian club.