Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s interview with Sport has taken up the front page of today’s edition of the Catalan newspaper, and confirmed manager Ernesto Valverde and defender Jordi Alba will be offered new deals at Camp Nou.
The left-back’s current deal runs out at the end of next season. The Spaniard had been promised a new deal by former technical secretary Robert Hernandez, but he is yet to commit his future to the La Liga winners.
In a lengthy interview with the local newspaper, the Spanish champions’ chief confirmed the 29-year-old’s long term future will be with his current employer.
“Of course he will continue. We are working with him for a long term contract, for the next five years,” Bartomeu said about Alba.
“Jordi is a player who was born here, formed here, then left and came back a few years ago. Jordi is a player that we need and that is essential for our game. I have no doubt that he will continue with us.”
Asked about the delay in Alba putting pen to paper on the new contract, the Barca president explained: “Always everyone tries to negotiate the best for each one.”
“Barcelona try to adapt to the demands of the player to the salary scale of the club, taking into account that Jordi Alba is one of the most important players in the squad and must have this contract that he deserves.
“Jordi is a player that we need and that is essential for our game. I have no doubt that he will continue with us.”
Moving on to the manager, the 54-year-old joined the Blaugrana in 2017 and signed a two-year deal with an option to extend it by a further year.
Bartomeu has now assured that the former Athletic Club Bilbao manager will be at the helm at the Camp Nou next season, because of his understanding of the traditions of the club.
“We don’t have any doubts here that Valverde will be the Barcelona coach next season. We will speak with him, of course, in time,” he added.
“That’s what we agreed. He’s a coach we have a lot of confidence in. He’s doing a great job. He’s an intelligent person, he knows Barcelona’s system of play and he manages the games in a way which we like.”
