Amid rumors of Ernesto Valverde potentially leaving Barcelona, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has reassured fans about the confidence in the Txingurri.
In light of unimpressive performances by Barcelona, many fans have been hopeful of a replacement of manager Ernesto Valverde taking place in the summer. Recently, there have been reports of it possibly happening prior to that, with River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo reportedly being considered for the job.
However, FC Barcelona’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, has reassured his confidence in the Txingurri, whom he has deemed the ‘ideal manager for this chapter’ in the club.
“This season we’ve promoted young players who can help us to get through these stages. We think that [Ernesto] Valverde is the ideal manager to lead this combination of a group of players who have been successful [with us] for some time, with that of promoted players,” Bartomeu told The Associated Press.
The president went on to stress the importance of having unity in the team, and deems Valverde the right one to build and retain that link.
“It’s important that we create this link, this unity, so we can form a new team. This new group is the one that will bring Barcelona forward, and Valverde has the ability [to lead this team],” he explained.
Bartomeu wasn’t shy of praising the youngsters that have joined the club, and sees it a part of preparing for the time after Messi has hung up his boots.
“Young players will keep arriving [to the club]. There are players that come from the outside [from other teams] but also from our academy, La Masia. And we are very happy, because we are preparing for this ‘post-Messi’ era,” the president said, before addressing Frenkie de Jong personally.
“Frenkie de Jong marks an era of his own at Barça,” predicted Bartomeu.
