Why Xavi’s Surprise India Application Hit a Salary Snag—and Chinese Fans Are Calling Him to China!

A Legend’s Unexpected Bid

Barcelona’s midfield maestro turned manager quietly submitted an email application for the vacant India head coach role, surprising the All India Football Federation as one of 170 candidates. After verifying his identity, officials confirmed it was indeed Xavi Hernández, free since leaving Barcelona in May 2024. Despite his interest and the federation’s public call for resumes, financial constraints loomed large over the process

Fans on Indian message boards buzzed with excitement and skepticism alike, comparing his vision to Pep Guardiola’s rumored interest and debating whether Asia’s football scene could support a coach of his stature.

Why Salary Sealed the Deal

The AIFF technical committee ultimately rejected Xavi’s bid due to prohibitively high costs. Reports noted his Barcelona salary peaked at $8.5 million annually—an impossible figure for India’s federation, even with generous cuts. Officials estimated the shortfall would jar the federation’s budget, which prioritizes grassroots development and domestic leagues over marquee hires

Domestic football blogs on Naver and Tistory dissected the episode, echoing the federation’s view that sustainable growth demands realistic spending. Readers lamented the lost chance, yet recognized the financial gamble inherent in chasing big names.

Chinese Fans: Come to China!

News of the rejection spread fast to Chinese social media, where fans eagerly invited Xavi to take charge of their national side, also coachless since mid-2025. Popular comments included Come to China—we can afford you and a plea that he bring Barcelona’s possession style to the Chinese team

On Weibo and football fan forums, reactions ranged from memes about misplaced emails to heartfelt appeals calling for a fresh start. These posts highlighted cultural pride and the hunger for top-tier tactics in Asian football.

Cultural Insights and Takeaways

This episode underscores the growing allure of Asia’s football markets—and the gap between ambition and budget. While Europe’s heavyweight coaches fire up fan dreams across the continent, federations face hard choices balancing star power with development needs. For international fans, it’s a reminder that football success relies not only on talent, but on financial and organizational foundations

Ultimately, Xavi’s international intrigue reveals Asia’s evolving football landscape: hungry for expertise, mindful of costs, and ready to rally behind legends if the price is right.