In the midst of rumors about Gallardo, the president of Barcelona referred to the future of Valverde and the “post Messi” era

[Inkriql]

Barcelona, with two fewer matches (today in the afternoon it will be measured against Celta de Vigo) than the Real Sociedad leader, is just one point from the top of the Spanish League and commands its zone in the Champions League. However, the irregular performance of the team questioned the continuity of coach Ernesto Valverde.

From Spain they place Marcelo Gallardo (he would have the support of Lionel Messi, who voted him for coach of the year at The Best Awards) and Ronald Koeman as the main candidates to succeed him.

Against this background, President Josep Bartomeu, in dialogue with the AP agency, came out to support the technical director. “This season we have brought young players who must help us overcome these stages. We believe that Valverde is the ideal coach to lead this combination of a generation of players of a certain age who have been so successful with that of promising players. It is important to create this link, this union, to form a new team and this new group that will carry forward Barça. And Valverde has this ability, ”said the president.

As coach of the Catalan team, he raised a Copa del Rey, a Spanish Super Cup and two La Liga, but was marked by how he was eliminated in his two appearances in the Champions League. In 2017-18 he was eliminated against Rome in the quarterfinals after winning the first leg by 4 to 1 and in 2018-19 something similar happened in the semifinals against Liverpool. He was out of the competition after winning the first match by 3 to 0.

Another issue that the president delved into was the figure of Lionel Messi. "His contract ends in 2021. But surely it will be the will of all parties involved, if he feels strong and ambitious, extend this contract indefinitely," he said.

“I always make a comparison with Pele. Pele was a man from a single club in Brazil ... I have no doubt that after Messi ends his career as a footballer he will remain linked to this club for the rest of his life, ”the president added.
 

Although Bartomeu said that "in the next two or three seasons our leader will continue to be Leo Messi," the leader warned that in the Catalan club "we are preparing for the post-Messi era."

“It is true that there are other young players coming. Players who come from abroad, but also players who come from our La Masia academy. And we are very happy because we are preparing this post-Messi era, ”he said.

The Argentine, with 32 years, is Barcelona's top scorer with 609 goals in 697 games and won 34 titles.

Within the future of the institution, Bartomeu praised Antoine Griezmann and Ansu Fati, although he pointed out in the Dutch Frenkie de Jong: "He is going to mark his own era in Barça."

To conclude, he preferred not to give further details on whether they will try to go in search of Neymar: “After what happened last market, he is still with the PSG. So we must have the utmost respect for a club and its players. ”