Ernesto Valverde is not clear on replacing Lucho at Barça
He's already said 'no' to Real Madrid and has a contract offer from Athletic
Athletic Club coach Ernesto Valverde is without doubt one of the firm options to replace Luis Enrique at Barcelona next season. The Basque coach is out of contract and ticks off all the criteria, but whether he will get the job is not clear at the moment.
Valverde has a new contract offer on the table from Athletic and is doubting whether or not this is the ideal moment to start a new era at Barça. We will have to see if he is the cosen one and if the pressure makes him change his mind with an offer on the table.
He feels comfortable in Bilbao, where he's had the freedom to build several projects with young players. A respected and loved coach by the club's supporters, he also has a great relationship with the president, Josu Urrutia, and is one of the longest-serving coaches in Athletic's history.
The decision is complicated and Valverde would have doubts about moving into a dressing room much more difficult than the one at Athletic, plagued with stars and coming to the end of an era with Luis Enrique full of titles but also of wear and tear.
In fact, Valverde rejected the chance to coach Real Madrid two years ago when Florentino Perez offered him the job, choosing to stay at Athletic over money. Then, Madrid went for Rafa Benitez, with Zinedine Zidane following him.
Valverde knows he's in the running for the Barça job and has taken it naturally. It's not the first time his name has been on the table. He almost took the bench when Andoni Zubizarreta was sporting director, but he did not want to break his contract.
We will have to see if Barça move for him and if he can overcome the apprehension which, for now, means he may not substitute Luis Enrique.
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