Vilanova has stepped down as Barcelona manager because of a cancer relapse.
Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts
Andre Villas-Boas has played down speculation that he could be in line to become Barcelona’s new manager as the club announced that Tito Vilanova will step down to concentrate on his fight with cancer, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Barcelona’s president announced the news that Vilanova was stepping down earlier on Friday and said that the club will announce a new manager next week.
Vilanova had taken time off mid-way through last season due to his ill health and although he returned to help Barca left the La Liga trophy, the cancer has returned and both Vilanova and the club feel that he cannot carry on and must concentrate on getting better.
Villas-Boas has been made one of the early favourites to succeed Vilanova but the Spurs manager refused to say whether he was interested in the job or not.
“It’s a very difficult situation and all of my wishes are with Tito,” said the Portuguese after a 0-0 friendly at Colchester. “If he has to resign for situation of illness it’s not the moment to speak about any speculation whatsoever. It’s not even a question, we are speaking about a person’s health.”
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has also been linked with the job at Barcelona while it has also been suggested that former Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes could take the job on as a short term solution.