Exclusive: Valverde already looking at houses & schools in Barcelona

Ernesto Valverde will not be named as Barcelona manager until May 29. That's the date the club have given for the announcement of Luis Enrique's successor, following a board meeting earlier in the day. However, for a few days it's been known that a deal is in place with the Athletic Club coach. 

Valverde has maintained his silence since the first day of speculations following the revelation Luis Enrique would leave his post in the summer. He has instead focused on trying to guide Athletic into Europe -- which they will achieve if Barça win the Copa del Rey. Despite his silence, though, he and his family have spent a while preparing for their return to Barcelona. 

The coach has almost finalised two of the principle concerns of the family: the acquisition of a new place to live and finding a school for his children.

Valverde and his family will live in the area around Sarrià and Sant Gervasi and he will be close to the Frederic Mistral-Tècnic Eulàlia school where it's more than likely his kids will go to school from next September onwards.

Everything is in place so that once Barça have played their final game of the season -- Saturday's Copa del Rey final against Alaves at the Vicente Calderon -- both president Josep Maria Bartomeu and Valverde can make the appointment official.