Former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez is set to return to Barcelona as the B team manager, 12 years after ending his playing career at the club.

Marquez will return to the club ahead of next season to coach the B team, and would take over from Sergi Barjuan.

The appointment hasn’t been officially announced yet but an agreement has been reached, and the deal is in place with the legendary Mexican.

Marquez, 43, spent seven seasons at the Camp Nou and made 242 appearances.

The 43-year-old left Barcelona in 2010, in a move to New York Red Bulls, but he carried on playing until 2018, only retiring from international football after the World Cup in Russia having won 147 caps for Mexico.

Marquez has had brief stints as club president of Mexican side Atlas and worked as a youth coach for lower-league Spanish team Alcala since his retirement.

According to publication Sport,  Rafael Marquez is set for a big step up in challenge by returning to one of his former sides to manage Barca B.

With Barcelona struggling economically and with injuries, the B team was often raided last season to bolster numbers in the first team squad.

Marquez is believed to have a good relationship with first team boss Xavi