Barcelona are clear that they want Rafa Márquez to continue as the coach of Barça Atlètic for at least another season.
FC Barcelona continues to bet on the continuity of Rafa Márquez at the helm of Barça Atlètic. According to Gabriel Sans of Mundo Deportivo, final negotiations are being left for the final stretch of the season, but the club explains to MD that they are happy with his work in the subsidiary team and that the intention is to maintain the collaboration that began a couple of seasons ago.
The Mexican coach is not on the list of candidates to take charge of the first team in the future, although he could eventually step in temporarily if the need arises. The interest in his continued association with the Blaugrana entity is independent of the club’s annoyance over his recent commercial action in favor of a betting house in his country. Rafa Márquez used his Instagram account again to advertise the same sports betting brand, although he has already removed it.
In June 2023, Barça made Rafa Márquez’s first renewal official for the 2023-2024 season. At that time, it was expected because Camp Nou was very pleased with his work. The same thing is happening now, especially because he has been forced to face many difficulties, with the first team relying on youth players to complete a short squad and with many injuries.
The Mexican coach, who returned to the Blaugrana club in the summer of 2022 after his playing career between 2003 and 2010, will be offered another season initially. Márquez has the support of President Joan Laporta, Vice President Rafa Yuste, and the executive in charge of youth football Joan Soler, as well as Barça Atlètic president Jordi Casals and youth football director José Ramón Alexanco. In his first season in the Primera Federación, he had a record of 17 wins, 13 draws, and 10 losses. In the playoffs, he faced Real Madrid Castilla, winning the first leg 4-2, but ultimately lost 3-0 in the return leg, resulting in elimination and the end of a very positive season. This year, Barça Atlètic occupies fourth place with 41 points, from 12 wins, 5 draws, and 7 losses.
