Earlier this week, Hansi Flick was unveiled as Barcelona manager, following the sacking of Xavi Hernandez. The 59-year-old had been linked with the position for many months, although it wasn’t the only position that he had been under consideration for.

As Christian Falk told The Daily Briefing, Flick had spoken to Bayern Munich about a return to the club he managed for 18 months between 2019 and 2021. He had even given the go-ahead for negotiations to take place.

“Hansi Flick is now Barcelona’s coach, but on May 11 he got a call from Max Eberl as Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had pushed him to get in touch with the ex-Bayern boss. Flick was told he could run Bayern for one year and Flick said ‘yes’. Eberl mentioned a follow-up chat to discuss the squad but he didn’t call again, so Hansi Flick was a little angry. But Eberl did this, as at the time he already had a plan in mind for Kompany to replace Tuchel – so you see how important Kompany is to Eberl!”

In the end, Barcelona will be very thankful that Flick never got a return call from Bayern. His appointment has generated plenty of excitement from within, and in a couple of weeks, his reign will begin to take shape.