Bartomeu exclusive: "Valverde will be Barcelona coach next season"
There had been doubts over the coach's future at Camp Nou
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has exclusively revealed to SPORT his thoughts on one of the big issues currently facing the club: the continuity of Ernesto Valverde on the Barça bench beyond the current campaign. Bartomeu is convinced that Valverde will still be in charge next season, telling SPORT as much in ana interview at the Festa de l'Esport Catala, where Jordi Alba was named Catalan Sportsman of the Year.
Bartomeu had no problem clarifying his position on Valverde's contract situation. The coach is in the second year of a two-year deal but there is an option for that to be extended into a third season. The president brought an end to the speculation about the Basque's future by offering a committed and clear response.
"We don't have any doubts here that Valverde will be the Barcelona coach next season. We will speak with him, of course, in time. That's what we agreed. He's a coach we have a lot of confidence in. He's doing a great job. He's an intelligent person, he knows Barcelona's system of play and he manages the games in a way which we like," responded Bartomeu, making it clear that his desire is for Valverde to continue as Barça coach next season.
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