It remains to be if Ernesto Valverde will take over the reins of Barcelona from Luis Enrique at the end of the current season.
Barcelona are in turmoil as the identity of their new manager remains a mystery, with Luis Enrique moving out of the club at the end of the season.
According to reports by the Independent, the club’s hierarchy is divided and unable to agree on who to replace the 46-year old, with Athlectic Club boss Ernesto Valverde considered the favorites of the club’s key members and more likely to take charge of the Catalan club at the start of next season.
? Luis Enrique talks about the upcoming game against Osasuna: https://t.co/qxTRCX7McT #ForçaBarça #FCBOsasuna pic.twitter.com/pm3PwvOAV7
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 25, 2017
Barca’s triumph over Real Madrid on Sunday propelled them forward in the race for their fourth Spanish title in five years, but will need Los Blancos to lose at least three points in their six remaining fixtures if they are to overtake their great rivals and ensure Enrique leaves in grand style.
While Valverde is already believed to have met with the club – with a contract already in sketch for him to move to Camp Nou at the end of the present campaign – players at the club supposedly have preference for Enrique’s current assistant Juan Carlos Unzue than any outside candidate.
Luis Enrique vs Zinedine Zidane,
2003 vs 2017 (14 years later)
Some things never change… ?#elclasico pic.twitter.com/OhjLDI8hNF— Prediction League (@predictionlg) April 25, 2017
Enrique himself and most of the club’s first team has endorsed Unzue, but endorsement for Valverde among senior administrative personnel at the club means the Spaniard, who featured in 22 league games for the Blaugrana between year 1988 and 1990, have an edge over Unzue and more likely to become the tactician at the Nou Camp.
Barca play host to Osasuna tonight as they look to keep up the pressure on Real Madrid, who take a trip down to Riazor to face Deportivo later in the evening.