Xavi is currently on a year-long break from football (Shutterstock)

Former Barcelona head coach Xavi is intent on finishing his year-long sabbatical after being linked with becoming Manchester United’s next manager.

United opted to sack Erik ten Hag on Monday morning following the team’s 2-1 defeat away to West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been appointed as interim manager with United confirming that they are seeking a permanent replacement.

Xavi has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, with reports last week claiming that United have already held talks with the 44-year-old.

Xavi’s wife also dropped a major hint on Sunday when she posted a picture of her son wearing a United shirt sitting next to his dad on her Instagram stories.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has replaced Erik ten Hag as Manchester United’s interim manager (Reuters)

However, several Spanish outlets including Marca and Relevo report that Xavi does not want to interrupt his break with his family and is unlikely to join a new club until next summer.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Xavi, who stepped down from his role at Barcelona at the end of last season, would get ‘instant respect’ from United’s dressing room.

‘It looks like they?re talking to Xavi, from Barcelona. He was one of my favourite players, I think he?s the greatest Spanish player of all time,’ Carragher told Sky ...