Xavi has U-turned on his decision to quit Barcelona at the end of the season but still has just a year left on his contract, opening the door for candidates like Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Despite the evidence, Barcelona might have a plan after all.

Following a meeting at the house of club president Joan Laporta and eating some Japanese takeaway, first-team boss Xavi officially reversed his decision to leave his beloved Blaugrana at the end of the season. Wednesday's surprise announcement laid out that the legendary Barca midfielder would remain his post until the expiry of his contract in June 2025.

That's only 14 months away, so Xavi's decision begs the question: what then? There's an option for his deal to be extended for a further year until 2026, but three more names closely associated to FC Barcelona are also out of contract next summer and been linked with returns: Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Mikel Arteta.

There's a long-standing belief that Guardiola will one day return to Barca for a second stint as manager and the same goes for Enrique, whose Paris Saint-Germain side dumped Xavi and co out of the Champions League last week in their own backyard - their temporary one in Montjuic anyway.

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Yet it's Arteta who's most recently been linked with the job, as in January it suddenly surfaced in Spain that the Arsenal boss had already agreed to succeed Xavi. Arteta promptly shut down those rumours, describing the story as "fake news," but the fact remains that his deal is about to enter its final year.

From the Spaniard's perspective, though, there's no rush to secure his future. Asked if there'd been an update on the situation earlier this month - before the Gunners' season began to crumble - Arteta replied: "No, nothing. I am really happy.

"I still have a year in my contract, that's a long time in football. The players are happy, the club is happy, no issues. I'm just focusing on the games and winning football matches and that's the most important thing right now."

In-depth discussions over Arteta's future will likely take place after the end of the campaign, with the big games still coming thick and fast. Owners Kroenke Sports & Entertainment are set to back him with another sizeable budget in the summer transfer window and both parties remain fully committed to bringing the glory days back to the red half of North London.

However, a club of Barcelona's stature - blessed young talents such as Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi and Pedri - has a special sort of pulling power, especially to those who have an established connection. Laporta has always been bullish in his ability to bring the biggest of names to Catalunya and sporting director Deco is understood to be a fan of Arteta.

What could help entice the Arsenal manager is if Barca are successful in their pursuit of Erling Haaland, who's been targeted for the 2025 summer transfer window as a long-term replacement for the declining Robert Lewandowski.

But Arteta, who spent five years at Barcelona as a youngster, has been working in England for nearly two decades - and he doesn't appear to have any intention of returning home at present. "I'm in the right place and I feel good about it," he recently affirmed.

"I'm embracing a journey with this club and there's a long way still to go. I have a strong relationship with the board. Things come in a natural way. When the time is right we will have those [contract] discussions and find the best way to deal with it."

It'd certainly be an ambitious ploy from Barca to hang their hopes on Arteta changing his mind at Arsenal, and if Guardiola were to become available, then surely the Manchester City boss would become their first-choice pick. PSG managers don't often last more than two seasons either, so Enrique coming back to the club with whom he won the Treble nine years ago is feasible.

There's also the financial aspect which will no-doubt come into play, as Arteta is reported to earn significantly less than what Guardiola and Enrique pocket at their respective clubs. A few levers would need to be pulled but if Xavi is to actually walk away in 2025, the door is open for Arteta.