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Former Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernández is being increasingly linked with a return to the managerial hotseat, with Serie A champions Napoli.
This comes amid mounting reports that Antonio Conte could soon be sent on his way by the Partenopei.
Just months on from leading Napoli to a historic Italian top-flight title, the ever-controversial Conte finds himself under serious pressure.
Amid a run of just two wins from their last seven, a stretch including an alarming 6-2 Champions League drubbing at the hands of PSV Eindhoven, the board at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona are understood to be considering a change.
With as much in mind, the names of two tacticians have quickly come to the fore as potential Conte successors.
Alongside ex-Juventus boss Thiago Motta, the aforementioned Xavi is viewed as a leading contender to step in in Naples.
As per a report from **[Diario Sport](https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/napoles-entra-erupcion-xavi-hernandez-barcelona-123909561)**, despite Aurelio De Laurentiis doing his utmost to back Conte, speculation linking the Spaniard with the post continues to mount.
Xavi has for his part turned down a whole host of opportunities to return to management since parting ways with Barcelona last year.
It now remains to be seen if he could be tempted by the prospect of a move to Italy.
Conor Laird – GSFN