When asked about his future at the club recently, Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde resorted to a vague reply and said that he is only focused on the task at hand.
However, Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has provided some clarity on the matter, according to Mundo Deportivo.
When Valverde signed the contract in 2017, it was believed was that the 54-year-old was contracted until 2019 with an option for a further year.
Bartomeu instead has revealed that the contract runs until 2020 – with an option for either manager or club to terminate the deal a year early. It means that, should the deal run its course, Valverde will stay as Barcelona manager for this season and the next. It can be broken by either party in 2019, but that would come with a penalty.
Valverde has come under scrutiny after a poor run of results in La Liga, but Saturday’s victory over high-flying Sevilla – their first domestic win since September 15 – has eased the pressure, and Bartomeu insists he still backs his man.
“I want to clarify this. I talked about it not many weeks ago,” said Bartomeu. “He has a contract for this season and for the next. There is a clause that the club or he can break the contract by paying a penalty. We have a contract until the 19/20 season. No doubt.
“We are happy with Ernesto Valverde. There is a good team and good players and we are very happy. He is an intelligent coach and he is very clear about the concept and the model of the game.”
