Messi wants Leeds United Coach Bielsa to take Setien's place at Barcelona

Marcelo Bielsa, Manager of Leeds United watches the play during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Charlton Athletic at Elland Road. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

Lionel Messi has reportedly urged Barcelona to make current Leeds United  boss Marcelo Bielsa the new head coach at Camp Nou.


Bielsa has led Leeds back into the Premier League for the 2020-21 campaign, but the Argentine is yet to agree a new contract at Elland Road.

The 65-year-old's existing deal with the Whites is due to expire next week, and according to The Sun, Messi has told Barca to bring his countryman to Camp Nou.

Quique Setien is still in charge of the Catalan giants, but the Spaniard could lose his job ahead of next season, having been unable to deliver the 2019-20 La Liga title.

The players of Leeds celebrate their manager Marcelo Bielsa with the trophy during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Charlton Athletic at Elland Road. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

Messi allegedly feels that Bielsa is the ideal candidate to lead the club through a difficult period, although no contact has been made with the manager's representatives at this stage.

Bielsa has previous experience of coaching in Spain's top flight, taking charge of Espanyol in 1998 before leading Athletic Bilbao between 2011 and 2013.

A street in Trinity Leeds Shopping Centre is renamed as Bielsa Way In honour of the manager behind Leeds United's historic Promotion from the Sky Bet Championship to the Premier League. Photo: George Wood/Getty Images

Barca will take on Napoli in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash on August 8 with the tie delicately poised following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Italy.