Thiago Motta responds to Barcelona links after Xavi announcement

Bologna head coach Thiago Motta has insisted that he is happy at his current club amid suggestions that he could be targeted by Barcelona as a replacement for Xavi.

Following Saturday's 5-3 loss to Villarreal, Xavi announced that he would be standing down as Barcelona manager this summer, claiming that the Catalan side "needs a change of dynamic".

"This club needs a change of dynamic. Leaving Barca is the best decision possible for all parties involved. I'm the most responsible one, so the players will finally feel free now," he said.

Motta represented Barcelona as a player between 1999 and 2007, featuring on 139 occasions for the first team, and he then went on to represent Atletico Madrid, Genoa, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring as a player in the summer of 2018.

The 41-year-old's impressive work in charge of Bologna has led to suggestions that he is being considered by Barcelona to become Xavi's replacement.

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Motta was asked about the speculation on Saturday but said that he was 'enjoying his time' at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.

"I heard of Xavi leaving Barca, yes - they told me this news some minutes ago. Barca links for the future? I live in the present. I'm enjoying my time at Bologna, I'm only focused on the present," Motta told reporters.

Bologna, who played out a 2-2 draw with AC Milan on Saturday, are currently seventh in the Serie A table, only three points off the Champions League positions.

"Our ambition is to do the maximum in every match, even against the opponents who are challenging for the ultimate prize. That makes me proud. Our ambition is to compete even against teams who on paper are at a different level to us," Motta added after the clash with Milan.

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"The only game where I got the sense we could not win this season was the opener against Milan, as it seemed over within 20 minutes and then we didn't create much.

"In all the others, we played to win, even though there were some struggles because every game in Serie A is complicated and difficult."

Rafael Marquez is also allegedly being considered for the position at Camp Nou, and the head coach of Barcelona B has commented on the managerial speculation.

Barcelona will be bidding to bounce back from Saturday's 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Osasuna on Wednesday night.