Rafa Marquez Expected to Leave Barcelona for Mexico

Rafa Marquez, the reserve team manager for FC Barcelona, is reportedly set to leave the club, with Mundo Deportivo and other Spanish outlets confirming the news. Marquez, a former player partnering Carles Puyol, is now likely to join the Mexico national team as a technical assistant for the 2026 World Cup before potentially taking over as the head coach post-tournament. This move comes amidst a crisis in the Mexican national team following a poor showing in the Copa America, with Javier Aguirre expected to lead the team and Marquez to play a significant coaching role. Despite recently extending his contract with Barcelona Atletic, Marquez's departure seems imminent, leaving the team in need of a new coach for the upcoming season, signaling significant changes in both the senior and subsidiary teams at Barcelona.