Barcelona fears sporting director Jordi Cruyff could LEAVE the Nou Camp at the end of his contract this summer after impressing Premier League sides for his work under the club’s financial constraints
- Jordi Cruijff has become an important sounding board for Barcelona head coach Xavi
- Barcelona officials are concerned that Cruyff may decide to leave in the summer
- Cruijff has a special bond with the club where his father Johan had a huge impact
Barcelona sporting director Jordi Cruyff is drawing interest from Premier League sides as he reflects on his future at the club.
The 49-year-old has proven to be a hugely influential figure for Barcelona coach Xavi working under the financial constraints imposed by La Liga.
It took a lot of creative thinking between the two, with Xavi often using the former Manchester United winger as a sounding board, not only for goals in recruitment, but also for the use of some of his team members.
Indeed, Xavi was quick to praise Jordi recently after taking his advice on playing Eric Garcia, the former Manchester City central defender, in a defensive midfield role against Elche with league leaders Barca 4-0 winners .
However, there is concern around Nou Camp that Jordi will be ready to move on at the end of this season.
Barcelona is concerned that sporting director Jordi Cruyff could move to the Premier League
Cruyff has been a major support for Barcelona coach Xavi amid their financial constraints
Xavi praised Cruyff for advising him to play Eric Garcia as a central defender in midfield
His contract expires in the summer and he has yet to indicate whether he will continue to work with the Spanish champions-elect.
His work has not gone unnoticed in England and a number of clubs are monitoring developments between Jordi and the Barca board.
Jordi previously served as sporting director at Larnaca in Cyprus and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and is constantly open to testing himself with new challenges in his career.
He will always have a special bond with Barcelona, the club where he started and where his father Johan had such a huge impact. But his work there has impressed clubs across Europe and Barca expects him to receive a number of offers which he will consider as the season comes to a close.