Exclusive: Juan Antonio Pizzi joins Barcelona coach shortlist

Barcelona are working with a clear coaching profile as they search for Luis Enrique’s successor. They want someone who knows the club and is capable of evolving a project that needs both titles and good football.

Two names have cropped up a lot, Ernesto Valverde and Juan Carlos Unzue, but a third has emerged in the past few weeks, that of Juan Antonio Pizzi. He is the current Chile coach.

After the miracle against PSG it seemed sure that Unzue would take the reins of the new project. However the slip up against Juventus has raised doubts again. He is the continuity option and has support inside the club and in the dressing room. 

Valverde’s profile is on the mark of what Barcelona want. He knows the ‘house’, he has a lot of La Liga experience and his teams have performed well. Valverde started to dream the moment Luis Enrique announced he would be leaving at the end of June, but his future is not yet clear.

The coach took the decision to leave Bilbao three weeks ago but first he will speak with Athletic president Jose Urrutia. He has been there for four seasons. Urrutia has a press conference on Thursday where he may clear up matters. If Barcelona choose him, Valverde will come. However he is not taking anything for granted and other possibilities include a year off or even a Premier League spell. 

GOOD RELATIONS WITH PIZZI

In terms of Pizzi, the name was put on the table a month ago and it has not gone unnoticed. He has a great relationship with Barcelona after his spell as a footballer here. He has won titles in Barcelona and coached at Valencia. While Pizzi has a contract with Chile, his arrival would not cost Barcelona too much money. They like his character, his hunger for titles, the football his team plays and his good relationship with Barcelona’s South Americans. Robert Fernandez knows him personally from when he was a player and knows his virtues. Another option.