Barcelona president plots new Enrique contract and Pogba move

Andy West 08:11 09/06/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Enrique (c) lifts the Champions League trophy.

    Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has announced he will attempt to extend manager Luis Enrique’s contract if he is re-elected this summer, and hinted that he would like to bring Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba to the Nou Camp.

    Bartomeu will today formally resign and hold his last board meeting under the current presidency, clearing the path for elections – in which he will stand, probably opposed by former president Joan Laporta – which are likely to take place towards the end of July.

    And although a victory for the current incumbent is by no means guaranteed, Bartomeu has attempted to capitalise on the feel-good factor generated by the team’s magnificent treble to secure Enrique’s uncertain future.

    The Barca coach has routinely refused to discuss whether he will stay with the club in recent months and, even after Saturday’s Champions League victory over Juventus, Enrique admitted he does not know whether he will still be in charge next season.

    Enrique was angered by Bartomeu’s sacking of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta during troubled times earlier in the season and it is believed that he has regularly failed to attend planning meetings for next season with the board.

    But Bartomeu now has offered an olive branch by insisting that he is delighted with Enrique’s work and would like to negotiate a new deal to replace his current contract, which expires in the summer of 2016.

    “I don’t have any doubt over the continuity of Luis Enrique,” said the Barca president.

    “His season has been 10 out of 10. He has a contract, has done a magnificent job and I see nothing to stop him continuing because this team has started another winning cycle.

    “I am not currently able to give him a new contract, although I would love to. That is something the future president will have to decide.

    “If that is me, I would certainly propose a contract extension. It might not be the first thing I would do, but it would be one of them.”

    Vice president Jordi Mestre also echoed the words of his boss when he spoke about Barca’s coach at the unveiling of Aleix Vidal.

    Mestre said: “It should be a question directly aimed at Luis Enrique, he has another year remaining on his contract and from our side, there is no problem whatsoever.

    “I don’t understand why the matter is being debated. There should be no problem in him continuing as coach.”

    Another individual even closer to the exit door is Dani Alves, and Bartomeu is firm that he does not intend to improve the contract offer recently made to the Brazilian international, who will leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the month if a new deal is not agreed.

    Alves recently criticised Bartomeu for failing to show enough respect for his achievements with the Blaugrana, but the president made it clear he is not budging as he insisted: “Alves already has a renewal offer.

    “The proposal is what it is, and it is a good one to stay with the best team in the world.”

    He was far more enthusiastic, however, about long-time target Pogba, who is also being tracked by Real Madrid amid reports that Los Blancos coach Zinedine Zidane is pursuing his French connection with compatriot Pogba in an attempt to secure the deal for the Bernabeu outfit.

    The midfielder delivered a fine performance for the Bianconeri in Berlin, in particular in the second half.

    It is understood Pogba favours a move to the Nou Camp over Madrid but, as Bartomeu himself admits, Barca’s current transfer ban hinders their position.

    Barca sporting director Ariedo Braida was seen talking to Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola at the Olympiastadion on Saturday but Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta insists he’s not for sale.

    Bartomeu said: “Pogba is an emblematic player for Juventus. He has a contract with Juve and we have not tried to sign him, but we are watching him.”

    Recommended